Badminton player Imogen Bankier, as well as several other Scots, might have just missed out on next month's Olympic Games - but she will still be going to Beijing.

The Glasgow 20-year-old has been named as a member of Britain's new Olympic Ambition 2012 Programme.

A huge squad of coaches and talented athletes earmarked for London 2012 will be spending seven days in Macau and Beijing during the 2008 Olympic Games.

Whilst there, athletes will visit the Team GB preparation camp in Macau, the Olympic Village and the Athletes' Lodge. They will also have a press conference fronted by Olympians such as Denise Lewis, Ed Coode and Alison Mowbray.

In addition participants will be given the opportunity to watch two competition sessions for their specific discipline.

This Programme's focus is based around providing sports specific event exposure and to replicate, as closely as possible, an athlete's overall Olympic experience.

"This programme is unique worldwide and is expected to provide a real competitive edge to the participants," said Simon Clegg, Team GB Chef de Mission. "The BOA's target is to finish fourth in the overall medal table in 2012, and research shows that a significantly high percentage of medallists at any Olympic Games have attended previous Olympic Games. This experience can form a vital part of the athletes preparation for success."

Bankier, currently at a career high of No.14 in the world with Robert Blair in mixed doubles, is joined in the Programme by three English badminton players, Joanne Good, Chris Adcock and Gabrielle White.

Other Scottish athletes in the group include modern pentathlete Mhairi Spence, handball player Lynn McCafferty, shooter Neil Stirton, judo player Sally Conway and triathlete Kirsty McWilliam.

Mhairi Spence said: "It's a very exciting opportunity to be a part of Britain's Olympic Ambition programme. It's a really good idea to give future athletes the chance to go into an Olympic environment and see for themselves how things work. It will also be a valuable opportunity to meet and mix with athletes from a wide range of different sports, and to make some new friends."