A team of NISA ice-skaters and coaches have been selected to be part of a unique Olympic programme.

Figure skaters Charlotte Aiken, Josh Whidborne and Katie Powell, along with coaches David Hartley and John Dunn have been chosen to be part of Team GB’s Olympic Ambition Programme.

The aim of the ambition programme is to give young, talented, British athletes a unique opportunity to experience the Olympic Games environment first hand and prepare them for competition at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

The NISA members will be given special access to Team GB’s Preparation Camp at Loughborough University, the Olympic village in London as well as being able to watch two competitions and tour around Team GB House in Westfield Stratford City.

Keith Horton, National Ice Skating Association (NISA) Chief Executive, said: “NISA is very proud of all the coaches and skaters who have been chosen to be given this unique insight, being part of it will be very inspirational.”

The Ambition Programme was first delivered by the BOA at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, where those involved in the programme included Athletics World Championship silver medallist Hannah England, Triathlon world number two Jonathan Brownlee, Badminton World Championship silver medallists Chris Adcock and Imogen Bankier, and Modern Pentathlon World Champion Mhairi Spence. All of these athletes will be hoping to use their experiences from Beijing to help them achieve their personal best with Team GB at their first Olympic Games as a competitor this summer.

British Athletes Commission Chair and Ambition Programme Director Sarah Winckless said: “The Ambition Programme is world leading in terms of preparation for competing at future Olympic Games and I will be encouraging the young British athletes and coaches to grab hold of this special opportunity with both hands and take in as much from the experience as they possibly can.

“The Programme aims to give the athletes and coaches an insight into the different unique aspects of the Olympic environment and to help them develop the tools they will need to become successful Olympians of the future, both as athletes, and as well rounded young people.”