Newham Council has welcomed the announcement that fourteen venues in Newham can be used as pre-Games training camps for the London 2012 Games.

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (Locog) announced that the venues, which include council leisure centres, specialist facilities and schools, will be featured in a guide that will be published at the Beijing 2008 Games.

The guide will list all the high quality facilities in the UK that are suitable for elite athletes to train and prepare for 2012 and will be circulated to National Olympic Committees and National Paralympic Committees.

Clllr Paul Brickell, Executive Member for Olympic Opportunities, says:

"I am delighted that so many of our venues are able to hold preparation camps for overseas athletes. It would be great to welcome world class competitors and build new links with different countries.

"Newham could be particularly attractive to teams who have a links to our diverse communities. Seeing top athletes training and using our facilities will give residents a more personal interest in the 2012 Games and even help inspire and encourage people to take up sport.

"At the same time we will weigh up the benefits to the community in every case. There should be minimal disruption to services and we would like to see visiting athletes spend time with local youngsters in the community."

The council will continue to co-ordinate and support the venues in the process and work with partners to develop a plan to attract national Olympic and Paralympic associations to the area."

To find out more about Newham's official 2012 Pre-Games Training Camps please go to London 2012 and search the site for Newham.