The Royal College of Art, a Grade II listed building and dates from the 1960s, will not be open to the public during the Games but it is expected that up 1,000 people a day will pass through the centre during the Olympics, including representatives from USOC sponsors such as BMW, Kellogg's and Nike.

"USA House will be a combination of Team USA staff offices, a hospitality centre, rooms for sponsors to work out of during the Games and an opportunity for American athletes and officials to mix in a good social atmosphere," USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky told insidethegames here where he is attending the first-ever Winter Youth Olympic Games.

"The Royal College of Art offers us a great central location that will have easy access to venues, hotels and many of London's top attractions."

The Royal College of Art was chosen following a two-year search by the USOC, which included visiting the Hospital Club, a private members' club and creative arts venue in Covent Garden, and Vinopolis, which markets itself as "London's wine and spirit testing destination" and is close to London Bridge.

The first USA House was erected in Salt Lake City, and it has grown in each subsequent Olympics.

The USOC will take over most of the Royal College of Art during London 2012.

In Beijing four years ago the House (pictured) covered 42,000 square feet while at Vancouver in 2010 they had two hospitality centres, one in the city which covered 25,000 feet and another in Whistler, 3,500 feet.

Among the features of the House in London will be a Budweiser Bar and McDonald's Coffee Bar as well as an opportunity for youngsters of invited guests to take part in interactive sporting demonstrations.

The House will also serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and is expected to become the base for a number of great American Olympians from the past.

One of the biggest attractions will be the chance for guests to meet American medallists who will be able to celebrate their success there with their families.

Each medallists will also be able to nominate a coach that has helped them for a special Order of Ikkos, which gets its title from the Ikkos of Tarentum, the first recorded Olympic coach in Ancient Greece.

The US is the lastest country to clinch a deal for a London base during the Olympics and follows the announcement last Thursday (January 13) that the Russian Olympic Committee is to set-up Team Russia Park at Perks Field in Kensington Gardens.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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