The Azerbaijan Olympic Committee signed the agreement following considerable discussions and a visit of six athletes and their coaches in August 2009. The warm reception they received when they visited is believed to have helped influence their decision to base themselves in the town.
Councillor Judy Terry, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure at Ipswich Borough Council said: 'We are delighted that Ambassador Fakhraddin Gurbanov has confirmed his country's intentions to use Ipswich for the Azerbaijan team.'
Mr Gurbanov added: 'I am pleased that Azerbaijan has chosen Ipswich for its preparations for the London 2012 Games. Ipswich is in a unique position to provide first-rate training facilities"
Since Azerbaijan became an independent nation in 1991, it has sent athletes to all games and has won 16 medals.
