Westcountry

Cornwall's double Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie will have the chance to defend his Olympic crown in Beijing, as the 30-year-old is one of nine sailors to have been officially selected to compete at the 2008 Games.

Ainslie earned the nod from Royal Yachting Association (RYA) selectors for the single berth in the heavyweight Finn class following his impressive showing at the Sydney International Regatta last month, where his dominant performance, coupled with back to back wins at the two Olympic Test Regattas at Qingdao in 2006 and 2007, sealed his nomination to compete at a fourth Olympic Games.

Already the owner of a silver medal from Atlanta 1996 as well as golds from the Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 Games, Ainslie looks set to be one of Great Britain's most decorated Olympians to be competing in Beijing, and he's relishing the challenge of going for his third straight Olympic gold.

Ben Ainslie: "It is fantastic news to be chosen to defend my Olympic Finn title in Beijing, and I am very honoured to be given the opportunity to once again represent my country at the Olympics."

"It is fantastic news to be chosen to defend my Olympic Finn title in Beijing, and I am very honoured to be given the opportunity to once again represent my country at the Olympics," said Ainslie.

Stephen Park, the RYA Olympic manager and sailing's team leader for the Beijing Games, added: "This marks the beginning of the home straight in sailings preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games, where we hope to surpass our target of three medals on the waters of Qingdao in August."

World champions Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson, Star world bronze medallists Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson, three-time Laser European champion Paul Goodison and 49er world champions Stevie Morrison and Ben Rhodes are the other sailors officially named as Team GB members.

Team GB could ultimately comprise 300 athletes competing across 22 sports at the Games in August.

"I am delighted to announce the first nine official members of Team GB for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games", said British Olympic Association chief executive Simon Clegg.

"Sailing is one of our core sports, one which has medalled consistently over many years, and which claimed five medals at the Athens 2004 Olympics. We look forward to celebrating further Olympic medals with sailing in Qingdao this August and wish these athletes well as they make their final preparations for the Beijing 2008 Olympics."

The 2008 Olympic Games begin on August 8.

Ainslie, who was born in Macclesfield, grew up in Cornwall and it was there that he found his passion for sailing. He currently lives in Lymington, Hampshire.