First Olympic team signs up to train in Hertfordshire

THE first Olympic team to sign up to train in Hertfordshire ahead of the 2012 Games has been revealed.

The county council hopes the British Virgin Islands is the first of many nations which will use the 17 training camps in Herts including Ridlins Athletics Track in Stevenage.

Dean Greenaway, British Virgin Islands Olympic committee secretary general, said today (Wednesday): "The British Virgin Islands expect to take part in two sports at the London 2012 Games - athletics and sailing.

"We had a pre-games training camp during our inaugural Olympic Games in 1984 in Los Angeles, but it was three time zones away in New Jersey.

"This opportunity with Hertfordshire allows our athletes and the delegation to acclimatise in the same locality as the Games. We look forward to this opportunity and the hospitality already extended by Hertfordshire."

It is understood that there is a connection between his committee and residents of Aston and it may be that the British Virgin Islands team will be accommodated in the village near Stevenage.

Cllr Derrick Ashley, Hertfordshire County Council's champion for the 2012 Games and executive member for planning, said: "Hertfordshire is an ideal place for athletes from around the world to train.

"It has high quality sports facilities, plus we can offer things like strength and conditioning training, equipment, accommodation, travel and competition at an elite level. And of course Hertfordshire is a very short distance away from London and the Olympic Park.

"Each nation that chooses our pre-games training camps will be spending up to �25,000 in Hertfordshire, which is good news. In addition, we will be looking to make school and community links with the British Virgin Islands long after the Games have finished. We look forward to welcoming the British Virgin Islands team to Hertfordshire very soon.