InsideJapan News Network

Japan's Olympic Committee has announced that it has selected Loughborough as its training and residential base for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

The Japanese Olympic team, who placed eighth at the 2008 Games in Beijing, will set up camp near the Loughborough University campus in order to take advantage of its top-line sports facilities.

Athletes will also be using the east Midlands base as a training camp for major European events in the run-up to the games, beginning with the IAAF Athletics World Championships in August.

Professor Kazuo Uchiumi, a visiting lecturer in sports policy to Loughborough University, told the Leicester Mercury: "I'm delighted the athletes from my country are coming here. Loughborough has facilities far superior to anything in Japan."

The Japanese Olympic team will be keen to impress at the 2012 Games as Tokyo is one of the cities shortlisted to host the 2016 event.

Earlier this week, AFP reported that the Japanese Olympic bid committee would be looking to enlist the assistance of the imperial royal family to boost the profile of its campaign.

Written by Graham McPherson


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