It follows the announcement, revealed exclusively yesterday on insidethegames, that Thailand are to base themselves in the region.

 

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed in Warrington today with the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) to formalise the deal.

 

They represent 17 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) of Oceania but the deal with the North West Development Agency (NWDA) excludes Australia and New Zealand, who are making their own pre-Games training camp arrrangements.

 

The remaining 15 Pacific Island countries, including Fiji and Papua New Guinea, will use the North West as a training base in the four year period leading up to the Games.

 

Jonathan Edwards, the former Olympic triple jump champion who is a board member of the London 2012 Board, will join representatives from ONOC to sign the agreement.

 

This will commit both parties to work together exclusively on using the North West as the training base for ONOC in the build-up to London 2012, and possibly beyond that to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

 

The North West Development Agency (NWDA) has been talking to Oceania’s National Olympic Committee since May about hosting the athletes in the region.

 

Edwards said: “It’s great to see teams developing plans to come and train in the North West.

 

“London 2012 is committed to ensuring that athletes are at the heart of our Games and these plans for Pacific island competitors to train with local athletes provide a terrific opportunity.”

 

Peter Mearns, the NWDA’s executive director of marketing and communications, said: “To include so many countries in one agreement makes this a unique understanding.

 

“The North West has the sports facilities and infrastructure to host these athletes and our clubs and coaches will be important in helping to welcome these athletes .”

 

Andy Worthington, the chairman of the Northwest Steering Group for the 2012 Games, said: “This agreement symbolises what the Olympic Movement stands for and provides an opportunity to develop a long-lasting relationship through sport with countries on the other side of the world, while inspiring communities across the North-West.”

 

The full list of countries covered by the agreement are American Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.