By Duncan Mackay in Vancouver

February 5 - The British ski and snowboard federation has been placed in financial administration but the British Olympic Association (BOA) promised that all the affected athletes, including snowboarder Zoe Gillings (pictured), will still be able to compete here in the Winter Olympics, which open next week.


The BOA said it will "immediately put in place a contingency plan" to make sure the 14 skiers and snowboarders picked for the Games can still take part.

The BOA said the International Ski Federation (FSI) has approved a plan to let a subsidiary company act as national body for the sports.

The FIS has endorsed the BOA’s move to mobilise a current dormant subsidiary company, "Team GB Ltd", to act as the National Governing Body for Ski and Snowboarding.

In this capacity, Team GB Ltd will trade under the name of BSS (British Ski and Snowboarding) and will ensure that FIS registration and FIS race entries continue for all accredited athletes without undue disruption.

Snowsport GB needed to secure £200,000 in funding by the end of last month to stave off bankruptcy.

Colin Moynihan, the chairman of the BOA, said: "The BOA’s role is to provide services for its member sports and represent the interests of the athletes. 

"It is with great regret that one of our governing bodies has gone into administration, particularly at such a critical time for our Olympic team.

"The National Olympic Committee has immediately sought to implement a solution to this dilemma.

"The athletes and coaches can rest assured that we will work around the clock to support them and help ensure that those involved in the sport can find the best possible structure for it going forward."

The financial collapse of Snowsport GB has affected the build-up to the Olympics of some of Britain's best medal prospects, skier Chemmy Alcott and Gillings, the 24-year-old from the Isle of Man who finished 15th on her debut in Turin four years ago when snowboard cross made its Games debut.

Gillings has already finished third this season in the FIS Snowboardcross World Cup Final.

She said: "It's been a difficult time for a lot of snowsport athletes, and I'm very hopeful that this will be a very positive step forward for skiers and snowboarders alike.

"With the Olympic Winter Games just around the corner, this is welcome good news."

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