The British Judo Association has announced a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding with JudoScotland and the sportscotland Institute of Sport.

Under the agreement the respective organisations will work together to deliver the performance delivery systems needed for the London 2012 Games, 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and beyond.

JudoScotland’s National Training Centre in Ratho, Edinburgh will be given the status of “Performance Centre” within the British Judo Performance Network, which is spearheaded by the British Judo Performance Institute based in Dartford.

Launched in 2009, the Institute is British Judo’s full-time centre of excellence and houses full time athletes as well as the Performance Directorate, coaching team, sport science and medical staff.

The British Judo Performance Directorate will provide the direction of the performance strategy and the programme being delivered at the National Training Centre in Ratho, with the main focus being the implementation of the technical direction from GB Head Coach, Patrick Roux.

As part of the agreement a more formal relationship will also be established between the coaching and support staff at the BJPI and Ratho to ensure a fully coordinated programme is delivered across the two sites.

There are now more than 60 athletes based out of the two centres. There are 35 full-time athletes based in Ratho, of which 8 are UK Sport Funded athletes.

The Centre is also used for JudoScotland’s Performance Development and Talent Development Programme athletes.

The BJPI provides a performance base for around 30 athletes including 20 UK Sport funded athletes, who regularly train and receive coaching and sport science and sports medical support services. All funded players come together at the BJPI for designated training blocks, while groups of players also visit Ratho to train.

Jim Feenan, Chairman of JudoScotland said, “JudoScotland welcomes the recently agreed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the British Judo Association, which clearly recognises the capabilities and elite status of JudoScotland’s National Training Centre within the EICA Complex, Ratho.”

“The MOU secures a strong, forward-looking working relationship with British Judo’s Performance Directorate and places JudoScotland’s National Training Centre as an integral element of the BJA Performance network leading into London 2012 and Glasgow 2014.”

Margaret Hicks, Performance Director of British Judo said, “We are very pleased that we have finalised an agreement with all parties in Scotland. This now formally gives us increased continuity and integration of performance work with funded players, coaching and support staff and at the same time values the additional resources being provided by Scotland to contribute to future success in the international arena.”

“The MOU will also assist us in collaboratively building a robust performance system longer term, well past London 2012”.

Peter Keen UK Sport’s Director of Performance said, “ Working in partnership is crucial to success in elite sport, and having been involved in the establishment of this MOU, UK Sport is delighted to see this relationship formalised, as it will no doubt benefit British Judo, and their athletes, as they strive for success in 2012, 2014 and beyond.”