Red-carpet treatment failed to net US basketball players

Believing they could get one of the highest profile teams at the event, officials from Sheffield travelled to Colorado to try to tempt the side to base themselves at the English Institute of Sport.

A delegation from the United States were sufficiently interested to make a return visit to view the facilities – where they said officials “really rolled out the red carpet” – but despite voicing their approval at the time the stars of the NBA have decided instead to be based at the Amaechi Basketball Centre in Manchester.

It’s a major blow for the city – the team could boast stars such as LeBron James and Kobe Bryant and would be accompanied by hundreds of travelling media, staff and fans.

They plan to play a number of exhibition matches before the Games in their host city and will also help with local community projects.

Despite that disappointment, Yorkshire has successfully secured nine international teams – including the American diving squad and the Chinese track and field squad – and more are expected to be confirmed in the coming weeks.

A spokeswoman for Yorkshire Gold, the regional Olympic body, said: “So far Yorkshire has attracted the same number of camps as London and we expect some of the world’s top athletes to train in Yorkshire at a stage when 75 per cent of National Olympic Committees and 90 per cent of National Paralympic Committees have yet to make a decision on where they will base themselves.

“Our current signings, along with the five team GB teams that train in Yorkshire, are expected to generate more than £3m for the Yorkshire economy.

“Teams like USA Diving and China track and field are expected to rank high in the medal tables and the only team that the Netherlands are planning to send to the UK is coming to Leeds, a fantastic testament to our outstanding facilities.

“Pre Games Training Camps have never been done prior to an Olympic Games like this and the value to economies and local communities who can see international teams competing at their local sports facilities is unprecedented. Cities are in negotiation with a number other countries and we expect several further announcements.”