The University will host athletes from Britain and Japan in the build-up to London 2012 so for logistical reasons the Nigerian Olympic team has now signed an agreement to move to Surrey, where they will stay in venues including the University of Surrey and the Guildford Spectrum Leisure Complex.

Last October Surrey signed a deal for Antigua to train at the University.

Tunde Popoola, Secretary General of the NOC, said: "It's an excellent place with modern facilities, world class coaches that will assist our coaches and athletes, and health and medical support to put them in tip-top form.

"Our number one priority is to ensure that Team Nigeria have the best possible preparation environment to be able to excel at the Games.

"That is why we want the best environment for them, and Surrey is ideal."

Denise Saliagopolous, Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for Community Services, the 2012 Games and Tourism, said: "It's fantastic news that another Olympic team is about to sign up to be based in Surrey.

"The County Council has been working incredibly hard behind the scenes to sell Surrey as the best place for Olympic teams to base themselves in the run-up to and during the 2012 Games.

"Outstanding facilities such as Surrey Sports Park and Guildford Spectrum make it an attractive place to stay.

"Each Olympic and Paralympic organising committee has £25,000 ($41,000) to spend on their training for the Games which will benefit the local economy if they choose Surrey."

The Guildford Spectrum is a particularly impressive venue and recognised as the largest and most exciting sports and leisure complex in the UK.

The facilities include a 400 metre athletics track and field stadium, 25 metre competition swimming pool, an Olympic size ice rink, a spinning studio, a two court sports hall, three squash courts and an aerobics studio.

Rob Price, Guildford Spectrum Marketing Manager, said: "We welcome all the Nigerian athletes, their coaching staff and supporters to Surrey and Guildford.

"The Nigerian team include world class athletes who were medal winners in Beijing and it is testament to the world class facilities we have here in Guildford and Surrey that they chose our venues."

Nigeria were represented in ten sports at the Beijing 2008 Olympics as they sent a total of 52 individual competitors plus two football teams.

They won a silver medal in the men's football and three bronze medals, but the country is hoping to end a 16-year wait in London for an Olympic gold medal after their last success in Atlanta in 1996, when Chioma Ajunwa won the women's long jump and the men's football team beat Argentina in the final.

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