OLYMPIC athletes will be staying in Comet country homes when the Games come to London in 2012. Aston residents will be playing host to members of the British Virgin Islands Olympic team, as well as providing transport. David Stimpson, chairman of Aston P

OLYMPIC athletes will be staying in Comet country homes when the Games come to London in 2012.

Aston residents will be playing host to members of the British Virgin Islands' Olympic team, as well as providing transport.

David Stimpson, chairman of Aston Parish Council, said: "The team doesn't have a huge budget and without friendly assistance like this it could make it very difficult. It could make the difference between them being able to come and not being able to come."

He called it "a very local, low key thing," with possibly 25 athletes coming to Aston, but it is currently "a moving target".

The secretary general of the British Virgin Islands' (BVI) Olympic committee, Dean Greenaway, was given a warm reception when he visited Aston recently. He also took a tour of nearby training facilities, including Hertfordshire University's Sports Village in Hatfield and the Gosling Sports Park in Welwyn Garden City. There is talk of Stevenage Leisure Centre and Ridlins Wood Athletics Track in Stevenage also being used by the world-class athletes.

Mr Greenaway said: "I have felt so welcome here and seen such great facilities for my athletes to train at, which, together with the warm and friendly welcome from the Aston villagers, only confirms my decision that Hertfordshire is the place of choice. Where else could we possibly want to go?

"The facilities are fantastic and the environment is conducive to producing great performances.

"I was particularly happy to meet the people of Aston because over the last two years I've heard a lot about the village. My visit helped cement what will be a lasting relationship."

In June, the BVI Olympic committee announced that it will use Hertfordshire's pre-Games training camps in the lead up to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games - making it the first nation to sign with Hertfordshire. It is hoped the athletes will be coming to Hertfordshire from 2010.