A Newport airman is hoping for a place in the Winter Olympics, to be held in Italy next year.

Senior aircraftman Dan Humphries, 26, has been chosen as part of the UK squad seeking selection for the 2006 Winter Games.

The RAF's 'Elite' scheme allows outstanding sportsmen to be released from their primary duties to undertake the demanding and exhausting season of competition and full-time training required for Olympic selection.

Humphries, based at RAF Innsworth in Gloucestershire, is currently training for the bobsleigh event at Bath University and will soon move on to to Calgary to prepare for the World Cup season.

He took his first ride on the bobsleigh less than three years ago and his potential was realised soon afterwards. He was later invited to attend the International Federation of Tobogganing training school in Austria, going on to compete in the British Championships.

"The bobsleigh event is something I've always wanted to do. Even as a child I watched it on television and really thought that it's something I'd love to try. It was through the RAF that I've managed to find my way into the sport," he said.

"All my friends and family are behind me, they've got their fingers crossed."

Humphries has enjoyed a series of World Cup finishes in both the two and four man bobsleigh events recently, and is determined to meet the challenge of taking part in the 2006 Olympics. He appreciates the help the RAF has given him by allowing him to take time off from his role as an avionics technician.

"It would be nice if the RAF were rewarded for allowing me to develop and progress. I hope to achieve that by standing on the winner's podium at the Olympics," he added.

After his training in Calgary, the next step for Humphries is to be officially selected for Team Great Britain along with his RAF teammates.

This will allow him to fulfil his ambition and pit himself against the world's best.