EXCLUSIVE by David Magilton: BOXING champion Audley Harrison has offered to give Bolton's Olympic medal hope a helping hand.

Harrison won the super heavyweight gold medal at the Sydney Games and is keen to pass on his experience to Amir Khan, Great Britain's only boxing representative.

The 17-year-old was disappointed the Olympic champ had not been in touch earlier, but Harrison rang up to say there had been a misunderstanding and that he was keen to help the Heaton boxer all he could.

And the World Boxing Federation title holder immediately offered to take Amir and his coach Mike Jelley to his training camp in Las Vegas.

Unfortunately, the Bolton pair had to decline the invitation because it would have upset the training schedule.

Amir now hopes that he can meet up with Harrison at the GB Olympic team's training camp in Cyprus, the week before the Games begin.

"I am keen to talk to him because of his experience of winning the gold medal," said Amir.

"I had tried to contact him but he was busy preparing for a fight. He has offered to fly me to America, but it's too close to the Olympics. I'm hoping to speak to him in Cyprus."

Amir is putting the final touches to his Olympic preparations. He has just finished at a training camp at Sheffield and this week was off to France to train with fellow internationals.

Next week, he is off on his travels again when he flies out to Cyprus for the final holding camp before the Games begin.

"It has been hard work, but I'm feeling stronger and fitter. I'm now concentrating on the technical aspects," he said.

Amir was invited to the Town Hall by the Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Prentice Howarth, and was given a warm send-off by a group of former Olympians from the town.