Up to 60 athletes and officials are set to travel to the Granite City, which has one of the most prosperous economies in Britain, after an agreement was reached following the visit to the city of David Ojong, Cameroon's Chef de Mission for London 2012. 

It is expected that the team will arrive in Aberdeen, the third biggest city in Scotland, on July 2 before leaving for the Olympic Village in London on July 16. 

They will be based at RGU: SPORT and Aberdeen Sports Village, a collaboration between the University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen City Council and sportscotland.

The two facilities began courting the Cameroonians last August. 

"By working in partnership we have successfully secured funding for this bid and as the country prepares for the Olympic and Paralympic Games our schools and community programme will encourage the whole community to access sporting opportunities which will hopefully encourage a life-long interest in sport and the benefits it brings," said Valerie Watts, the chief executive of Aberdeen City Council. 

"It also helps bring the excitement and thrill of London 2012 closer to home."

It is hoped to use the new link between Aberdeen and Cameroon to forge school links between the two communities. 


Cameroon sent 33 athletes in nine sports to Beijing in 2008 with Françoise Mbango Etone (pictured) once again the star of the team.

She won the triple jump gold medal, retaining the title she had won in Athens four years earlier. 

But she will not be part of the Cameroon delegation preparing in Aberdeen as in 2010 she controversially switched her allegiance to France.

Etone has won two of Cameroon's three Olympic gold medals since they made their debut at the Games in Tokyo in 1964.


The other gold medal was won by the men's football team at Sydney in 2000, when a team including Samuel Eto'o (pictured) beat Spain 5-3 on penalties in the final.

Cameroon's men have failed to make it to London 2012 but the women will make their Olympic debut after defeating Nigeria 4-3 on penalties to qualify.

"Securing pre-Games Training Camps not only gives Scotland the opportunity to showcase our facilities but also allows us to promote our nation and its people as a place to visit and do business for both London 2012, [the] Glasgow 2014 [Commonwealth Games] and beyond," said Shona Robison, Scotland's Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport. 

"I am delighted that the world class sports facilities in Aberdeen will be playing host to the Cameroon team and I look forward to welcoming them to the north of Scotland.

"I hope this encourages other teams to look to Scotland as a training base not just for London 2012 but also for the Commonwealth Games, ensuring all of the country will feel the benefits and be part of the excitement associated with both sets of Games."

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