A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Park Yong-sung, the President of the Korean Olympic Committee (KOC), and Chris Jenks, the Brunel University Vice-Chancellor Professor, in the presence of Sir Craig Reedie, a member of the International Olympic Committee's ruling Executive Committee and the former chairman of the British Olympic Association.

It will see the athletes take advantage of the University's world class sports facilities, including its world-class indoor athletics centre, outdoor sports park and state of the art gym.

Sebastian Coe, the chairman of London 2012, said: "I am sure that Brunel University will provide excellent training facilities for the Korean Olympic Committee athletes and hope that this agreement leads to the development of a strong relationship via which both parties benefit across sporting and educational agendas."

Brunel University is one of the UK's leading sports academies, boasting facilities that are among the best in the world, and acts as a year-round base for top athletes, with members of the British and Jamaican athletics teams training on campus, including triple world recorder holder Usain Bolt.

Furthermore, 17 graduates from the Uiversity itself competed for Britain at the 2008 Beijing Games taking home four winning medals – Heather Fell in modern pentathlon, and Tom Stallard, Matt Wells and Vicky Hansford in rowing.

South Korea sent a total of 267 athletes from 25 sports to the last Olympics in Beijing, where they finished seventh overall with a total of 31 medals, including 13 gold.

The gold medallists included four in taekwondo - with Hwang Kyung-Sun (pictured) claiming victory in the women's 67 kilogram category - two in weightlifting and one each in badminton, judo and swimming - all of who will be based at Brunel.

The Korean athletes, from 10 disciplines, who also include gymnastics, handball, hockey, table tennis and wrestling, along with their coaching team will arrive at Brunel University on July 20, 2012 and will remain until the Games end on August 12.

Neil Young, the head of Brunel Programmes for the London 2012 Games, said: "We are delighted to be able to offer the Korean athletes access to our facilities, and hope that the hard work and dedication of the athletes that train here at Brunel will translate into success in the medal table.

"The sporting facilities at Brunel University are among the best in London and this was recognised when we were included in the official London 2012 Pre-Games Training Camp Guide."


Related stories
January 2010: Brunel University confident on securing Chinese for London 2012