It ends an extensive search by the Barbados Olympic Association (BOA), who have visited several locations across the UK, including Colchester, Ipswich and Sheffield and had been courted by Birmingham, Glasgow and Hull.

The squad will use K2 Crawley with its athletics arena and 50 metre swimming pool, and other specialist sports facilities.

K2 Crawley is one of 10 West Sussex venues approved as meeting the standards to host pre-Games training camps by the London 2012 organisers.

The venues are part of West Sussex–Ahead of the Game, the countywide initiative ensuring West Sussex residents, businesses and communities get the most out of the 2012 Games.

West Sussex County Council Leader Henry Smith said: “I’m delighted we will be welcoming the Barbados team to Crawley in the run-up to the 2012 Games, and I hope more teams will sign up to use our excellent facilities across the county.

“West Sussex–Ahead of the Game will be working very closely with the Barbados team to ensure their competitors get the right training, support and experience to qualify for the Games and to perform at their best in London.”

Steve Stoute, the President of the BOA, said: "The sports facilities and support services are state of the art."

The Caribbean island, which has a population of only 279,000, sent just seven competitors to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, four swimmers, a sailor and two athletes.

Barbados have only ever one Olympic medal since it made its debut in the Games at Mexico City in 1968.



That was claimed by Obadele Thompson (pictured right), who won a bronze medal in the 100m at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

But Brathwaite should be a genuine candidate to win Barbados' first-ever Olympic gold medal in London after his performance at the World Championships in Berlin last August. 

The 21-year-old from Bridgetown pulled off a major shock when he scorched to victory in the Olympic Stadium in the German capital ahead of the American pair Terrence Trammell and David Payne.

Barbados' Government has promised to try to provide more funding to send a bigger team to London 2012.

During the pre-Games camp, sports science and sports medicine support will be on offer from the University of Chichester, which has played an active role in preparing medal winning Olympic athletes since 1988. 

A range of local businesses will provide other support services.

Lenny Walker, Crawley Borough Council's Cabinet member for Leisure and Cultural Services, said: "This is fantastic news for Crawley and the county. K2 Crawley is the jewel in the crown of the town's leisure facilities and it's extremely gratifying to get this kind of international approval.

"However, this isn't just about a few weeks in 2012.

"We are looking to build educational, cultural and sporting links with Barbados over the next few years."

The Sussex Tourism Partnership is already looking at how the county can benefit from the Games, and from hosting pre-Games training camps.

John Williams, the chairman of Tourism South East, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Barbados Olympic squad to the Beautiful South. 

"We congratulate Crawley and West Sussex on their success. 

"It underlines the superb facilities available to Olympic teams across the South East. 

"Training camps are a core part of our overall programme to ensure the local visitor economy gains the maximum benefit from the 2012 Games."

Barbados' Paralympic team had already chosen to train in Medway in a deal signed last April.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
August 2009: Hull targets countries for 2012 training camps
June 2009: Ipswich latest town to be visited by Barbados
May 2009: Exclusive - Caribbean countries may do joint deal for 2012
April 2009: Barbados Paralympic team to train in Medway
February 2009: Barbados Government promise financial support