The UK Athletics head coach, Charles van Commenee, has welcomed the extension of the International Association of Athletics Federation’s qualification period for the London 2012 Olympics.

The world governing body has extended the qualification period by five months, so it starts in May 2011 rather than October, giving athletes more opportunities, such as at this summer’s world championships in Daegu, South Korea, to achieve qualification marks.

UK Athletics announced its complete selection criteria for the Games on Tuesday, very much in line with the tough standards for recent championships and with those released by the IAAF at its council meeting earlier this month.

Van Commenee said: “The changes to qualification periods are welcomed as athletes will have more opportunity to meet our standards, which are not easy to achieve, to produce the best from our team.

“I’m confident the 2011 season will produce some great performances from British athletes who, with just 458 days to go until the Games, are all striving to excel at the Olympic Games in London.”

Athletes finishing in the top two at the Olympic trials next June will be selected provided they hold the A standard qualifying mark or finish in the top eight in Daegu, with further selections possible through meeting A or B standards during the qualification period.

Van Commenee has previously said he is not prepared to compromise the high standard of the British team by lowering qualifying marks to give more athletes the chance to compete at their home Olympics.

Selection for the British team will take place on 2 July 2012 with nominations passed on to the British Olympic Association for ratification.