Team USA will use both the UEL Docklands and Stratford campuses at the University for training and support for its Olympic and Paralympic Teams before and during Games time.

More than 1,000 athletes coaches, scientists, medical practitioners and support staff - including 14-times Olympic gold medallist, Phelps - will use UEL’s brand new state-of-the-art facilities in the unique partnership. The £18million sports and academic centre at the Docklands campus is due to open in late 2011.

Athletes from the United States will be also use UEL facilities such as the halls of residence, as well as setting up onsite sports science, medicine and media centres as its sport performance and operational base. 

Dr Paul Ford, director of Olympic and Paralympic partnership operations at UEL, said: "It's a privilege the US Olympic Committee has selected us for its 2012 US Olympic training site."

The centre will include a gym and fitness suite, a large indoor sports arena, 10 badminton courts, two competition basketball , volleyball and netball courts, cricket bays, two five-a-side football pitches, a sports café and covered seating for 400 people.