WREXHAM could play host to international athletic stars after sports facilities in the town were chosen among those suitable for pre-games training camps for the 2012 Olympics.

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games today announced the launch of its Pre-Games Training Camps Guide today, which features three venues in Wrexham.

The guide will feature a wide range of high-quality sporting facilities from across the UK which teams and individual athletes may choose to use in order to prepare and acclimatise prior to the London 2012 Games.

The Racecourse, NEWI and Queensway Stadium are among those which are included.

Assembly Heritage minister, Rhodri Glyn Thomas, said: "The fact that so many facilities across Wales are included in this brochure demonstrates the high standard of sports facilities we have here in Wales."

Many people, including Welsh Assembly Government, the Sports Council of Wales, Disability Sport Wales, and local government have been working very hard to ensure that Wales gains the maximum benefit from the London 2012 Games.

"We have already had great success through attracting one of the largest Paralympic teams, the Australians, to Wales for their pre-games camp and I'm confident that the hard work going on behind the scenes will lead to more teams taking advantage of the world-class facilities we have here in Wales."

Facilities from across the UK applied to be included in the guide, which will be presented to National Olympic Committees and National Paralympic Committees at the Olympic Games in Beijing in August 2008.

A rigorous evaluation of every facility against selection criteria was conducted by the London Organising Committee in close co-operation with the National Governing Bodies of Sport, and also the Sports Councils from each nation, UK Sport, the British Olympic Association and British Paralympic Association.

Today, each facility that applied has been contacted to confirm whether they have met the selection criteria and will be included in the guide.

Those that met the criteria, including 31 in Wales, have received guidance on the next steps required and the arrangements around how each overseas visiting team can apply for up to £25,000 to use facilities included in the Guide.

According to the Welsh Assembly it is estimated that a major team, such as the Australian Paralympic team, would be expected to invest around £1m in the local economy where they are based.

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