Basketball great Andrew Gaze will be a key player in the London Olympics following his appointment today as an Athlete Liaison Officer (ALO) for the Australian Olympic Team.

Gaze, a five-time Olympian, joins two other captains of sport, John Eales and Steve Waugh in the role in 2012.

A fourth ALO, a woman, is yet to be appointed by the Australian Olympic Committee.

ALO’s provide support and guidance for individual athletes and teams by sharing their experiences during their illustrious sporting careers.

They aim to help the athletes maintain focus and maximise performance with the assistance of the head coaches’ and team managers.

While Gaze is a newcomer to the role he has a wealth of Olympic experience having competed in 1984, 1988, 1992, 1998 and 2000.

He was the Team Captain and Flag Bearer at the Sydney Games.

“Andrew is a tremendous competitor and possesses a terrific personality, that combination makes him the ideal person for this role” said AOC President John Coates.

“We will never forget the charisma and goodwill he generated in the Village in Sydney. He was extremely popular and well respected by his teammates and other athletes from all round the world “Coates said.

Eales and Waugh worked with the Australian athletes in Beijing.

"The re-appointment of John and Steve was a mere formality for AOC Executive following their contribution in Beijing” Coates said.

“Our Team is fortunate to have athletes of their calibre, along with Andrew Gaze, as part of the London campaign”.

Eales was also an ALO at the 2004 Athens Olympics.