Mike Whitby, the Leader of Birmingham City Council, was on hand to sign the document with Stephanie Hightower, the President of USA Track & Field (USAT&F), and Doug Logan, the chief executive, against a backdrop of a Dixieland Jazz band, an Uncle Sam and stars and stripes stilt walkers.

 

Whitby said: "We will see some of the greatest athletes in the world coming to Birmingham.

 

"It will mean our city will be placed under intense worldwide media spotlight in the build-up to the Games and we can show the best that our city has to offer to the world."

 

Talks had started in August 2006 when Whitby met Hightower at the Norwich Union Grand Prix in Birmingham and it developed from there.

 

Details of the deal were first announced in March 2007, as revealed exclusively at the time by insidethegames.

 

Whitby said: "We were quick off the mark, like Usain Bolt, but then needed to show the long-distance stamina of Paula Radcliffe to reach this agreement.

 

"These are not just the London Games, the Olympics are coming to Birmingham as well."

 

Logan said they plan to bring about 155 athletes, plus coaches, medical and support staff, to Birmingham for up to six weeks during summer 2012.

 

He said: "We have chosen to make Birmingham our home away from home over the next two or three years.

 

"We’ll be walking the streets and taking advantage of the cultural amenities and meeting people."

 

The American athletes will visit schools and work with junior athletics teams in Birmingham to inspire the next generation of young talent.

 

Further spin-offs include cultural and educational links between the two organisations which they hope will continue beyond 2012.

 

Birmingham is set to sign a similar deal with Jamaica's athletics team, including triple Olympic and world champion Bolt, for them to train in the Midlands before London 2012.

 

 

Related stories

July 2009: Alexander Stadium to receive facelift for US arrival in 2012

July 2009: Birmingham move closer to formalising deal with USA

May 2009: Hosting US in 2012 will cost Birmingham £400,000

February 2008: Birmingham cement relationship with USA for 2012

March 2007: USA team to base themselves in Birmingham for 2012