The Bedfordshire Olympic Opportunities Support Team (BOOST), which has the University as one of its key members, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the African nation.

The University’s Professor David Barrett was delighted with the deal. He said: “This is the next successful step both for BOOST and the University in further engaging with the many opportunities which the London 2012 Games are bringing to our country.”

The President of the Ivory Coast Paralympic Committee, Serge Pacome Trazie, and the national powerlifting coach, Kouadio Jean-Batiste Kouassi, toured the University as part of their recent five-day visit to this country.

Serge said: “It’s a very good university and it’s an internationally recognised place. I’m very jealous compared to what we have back in the Ivory Coast and I think it must be one of the best universities in England.

“As sports people, I can see real benefits for my country to train here. The sports science facilities here are fantastic and there are plenty of things to do for a visiting country. There are a wide range of diverse facilities for us to be based here, both socially and culturally.”

The Ivorians’ trip to England also saw them visit the Olympic Park, visit Biddenham Upper School, tour the Bedford International Athletics Stadium, watch a rugby game at the Bedford Blues, and visit various sporting and cultural centres in Luton such as the UK Centre for Carnival Arts.

Ivory Coast are the fourth country to have toured the University following earlier visits by Rwanda, Bermuda and Papua New Guinea. A number of other countries have also expressed an interest in Pre Games Training Camps with BOOST.

The photo shows the Ivorian visitors to the University, Serge Pacome Trazie and Kouadio Jean-Batiste Kouassi, with BOOST representative Howard Darbon and student ambassador Tim Masih.