An Olympic team will train in Sussex ahead of the London Games – thanks to a former MP.

Hastings Sierra Leone Friendship Link and a number of the town’s businesses and organisations have stepped in to offer the team the facilities they need to complete their acclimatisation and training.

As well as the years of dedication and training required by all Olympic athletes, the two-strong team, hurdler Ibrahim Turay and long jumper Ola Sesay, have had to overcome the additional hurdle of poverty.

They qualified for the Games against the odds as their national government could not afford to send them to the African Games, their main qualification event.

The athletes will arrive in Hastings today (July 12) and be staying at the White Rock Hotel and training at William Parker Sports College.

They will be seen around the town in their Olympic uniforms during their stay and will appear on stage in the evening as part of the Olympic torch relay celebrations on Tuesday, July 17 before travelling on to the Olympic Village in London.

The offer to host the team was made by former Hastings MP Michael Foster on behalf of the Hastings Sierra Leone Friendship Link.

He said: “As well as helping the Olympic team, it will be great for our young people to be captured by the spirit of the Olympics by seeing world class athletes living and training in Hastings. It’s a real coup for the town.”

The Argus will be following the progress of the Olympic torch across Sussex on Monday, July 16 and Tuesday, July 17.

See Saturday’s Argus for all the details on where the torch will be, the best vantage points and road closures.

Follow the live blog and see The Argus interactive map on our dedicated Olympic Relay page.