The 24-year-old from Coedpoeth has been named in the bow seat of the GB flagship four, while fellow King's Chester product Olivia Whitlam races the women's pair after securing a slot at the last Olympic qualifying regatta.
"It's brilliant to final
ly get that official announcement," said James, who joins 2004 Olympic champion Steve Williams, and two-time world champions Peter Reed and Andy Hodge on board.
"Now we can go ahead and just focus on getting that boat ready for Beijing and the Olympic final, starting with our high altitude camp up in the Austrian Alps."
James will be racing in the shadow of Great Britain legends, with Redgrave and Pinsent going unbeaten in fours in Olympic and world championship regattas from 1997 to 2006, until a shock fourth place last year in Munich, where James landed bronze in the GB 8.
"It's inspiring to think you've got that history behind you, giving you that extra push in confidence," added the four-time Cambridge Boat Race Blue, who forced his way on board the four after Spring's trials.
"GB has a fantastic pedigree and tradition in the event, and it's what people always ask you about.
"But at the end of the day it's up to us, it''s our boat."
James has recovered from a disc injury in his back that kept him out of the boat for five weeks until his return for the last World Cup regatta in Poznan where the crew won silver behind Holland.
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