The Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) has selected Leeds to be its official European pre-Games training base ahead of next year's London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Around 300 coaches, athletes and support staff representing China in at least 11 sports will arrive in the Yorkshire city ahead of the Games in order to acclimatise to British conditions. Leeds had previously been confirmed as the training base for China's track and field teams earlier this year but has now been named as COC's official European base.

The deal was agreed between COC and Leeds City Council (LCC), with support from both the University of Leeds (UL) and Leeds Metropolitan University. Among the sports to be represented by Chinese athletes based in Leeds is mountain biking; fencing; swimming; modern pentathlon; women's handball; and women's hockey.

Most of the Chinese athletes to be based at UL accommodation, with facilities including the John Charles Centre for Sport; Dalby Forest; and Bishop Burton to be used. LCC leader Keith Wakefield said: "For China to choose Leeds as their official pre-Games European base is a phenomenal honour and its effect will go way beyond the financial benefit or simply raising the profile of our city."

Image (from left): LCC leader Keith Wakefield; COC director for national team management Mr Yang; and COC finance manager Miss Lu Details: www.leedsgold.co.uk