Manchester’s Olympic Thai in

The Sport Authority of Thailand have announced a partnership with Manchester City Council that will see Thailand’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes train in the city for the 2012 Olympic Games.

More than 50 of Thailand's athletes and support staff will be based in Manchester during the run up to the games, training for tennis, badminton and athletics. The team has been drawn to Manchester by the world-class facilities available, such as Northern Lawn Tennis Club in Didsbury and the Indoor and Outdoor Athletics Arena at Eastlands.   

This agreement is the latest example of Manchester's international standard facilities, many of which are the legacy of the 2002 Commonwealth Games, attracting elite athletes and benefiting the city's economy.

Thailand will join Swimming Australia, the Brazilian Paralympic team and USA Basketball in Manchester as they all prepare for the 2012 Olympics. 

The deal to bring the Thailand team to Manchester was secured by Manchester City Council, and supported by Northwest Regional Development Agency, Marketing Manchester and the Manchester Sport & Leisure Trust.

Councillor Mike Amesbury, Executive Member for Culture and Leisure at Manchester City Council, said: "We are extremely proud of the world class sports facilities that we offer here in Manchester, which have been and continue to be, instrumental in the success of some of the world's most elite athletes as well as being used by our local communities.

"We are delighted that the Sports Authority of Thailand have chosen Manchester as the training base for their athletes and will look forward to welcoming them to the city in the lead up to 2012."