Rachel will oversee the running of the Football competition throughout the UK. She will provide a focal point for FIFA and the International Paralympic Sport Federation in relation to competition issues, whilst ensuring that the competition is organised in accordance with FIFA regulations, the IOC Charter and the Host City Contract. She will also be liaising with other areas to ensure the coordinated delivery of support services such as accreditation, transport, medical, venue operations and volunteers.

Commenting on her appointment Rachel said: “I am thrilled to be joining the London 2012 Organising Committee and I look forward to working again with past colleagues at the Football Association (FA) and operational staff at stadia up and down the country. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be involved in the world’s biggest sporting event and organise the largest Football competition seen in the UK since Euro ’96.”

The Olympic and Paralympic Football competition will involve over 500 athletes making up 16 men’s teams and 12 women’s teams. The Olympic tournament will take place in iconic Football stadia throughout the UK including Old Trafford, St James’ Park, Villa Park, Millennium Stadium and Hampden Park. For both competitions, the finals will be at Wembley Stadium.

Rachel has worked within the football industry for the past seven years at two of the major football organisations in England – The Football Association and the Premier League. Initially starting in the Marketing Department at the FA, delivering a number of FA partner rights around the England team and FA competitions before moving to the Events team. Rachel was part of the team operationally delivering England Senior and Under 21 Internationals up and down the country, before taking full responsibility and the overall lead for the planning and coordination of all aspects of the match-day operation and venue management across the FA portfolio.

Rachel moved to the Premier League in early 2007 to work on a new initiative - ‘Creating ‘Chances Places for Players’ which is a high-profile programme that uses the league’s star players to highlight the diverse and sheer quality of good cause work carried out by the 20 Barclays Premier League clubs.

Jonathan Hill, Group Commercial Director of the FA, said: "We are delighted that a former FA employee has got this prestigious role, particularly someone as proficient and likeable as Rachel. We look forward to liaising with her on the Olympic project."

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For further information please contact the London 2012 Press Office on +44 (0)203 2012 100 or visit the website at www.london2012.com. Find out the latest from London 2012 HQ on our blog.

LOCOG now has seven domestic Tier One Partners - adidas, BP, British Airways, BT, EDF Energy, Lloyds TSB and Nortel. There are three domestic Tier Two Supporters – Adecco, Cadbury and Deloitte and three domestic Tier Three Suppliers – Airwave, Atkins and Boston Consulting Group. The Worldwide Olympic Partners already signed up for 2012 are Coca-Cola, Acer, Atos Origin, GE, McDonald’s, Omega, Panasonic, Samsung and Visa.