Nigeria opts for Loughborough for London 2012 preparations

ATHLETICSAFRICA

The Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) has chosen Loughborough University as the preparatory camp for Team Nigeria ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games next year.

Engineer Sani Ndanusa, the president of the NOC, announced this after the executive meeting held last weekend at the ANOCA Headquarters in Abuja.

Ndanusa, who is also a graduate of Loughborough University where he obtained an MSc in Waste and Water Engineering, said the camp site is among the best in the world, with world-class performance facilities across a multi-range of sports and is the UK's leading University for sport.

Both Japan and Great Britain have already identified the university as an ideal base for their team preparations in the weeks leading up to Games.

The NOC President, who had declared 2011 as year of Nigerian athletes, said that the welfare of athletes was instrumental to getting the camp for Team Nigeria.

"Our number one priority is to ensure that Nigerian athletes have the best possible preparation environment," said Ndanusa.

"We are confident that Loughborough University's excellence in the field of sport will be of huge benefit to Team Nigeria's aspiration of performing creditably at the Games."

Aside from its proximity to London and the fact that the University had facilities for most of the Olympic disciplines, Loughborough is also home to some of the UK leading coaches, sports scientists and support staff.

"The co-location of major teams will create a unique environment, with Loughborough likely to have the highest concentration of Olympic activity," Ndanusa added.