Capital gains as South Africans get set to make St Mary's their Olympic base

The Olympic squad of South Africa look poised to choose St Mary's College in Twickenham as their training base for the 2012 Games.

South African Olympic chiefs visited the college's impressive sports facilities last week and if they sign a deal their 130-strong squad would be by far the largest to opt for the capital as a base so far.

Swimmer Natalie du Toit, the first amputee to qualify for the Olympics, may find herself training at the soon-to-be-opened 50-metre pool in Hillingdon which is part of the cluster of facilities promoted by St Mary's and includes the rowing at the Molesey club on the Thames and hockey at Surbiton.

South Africa also viewed facilities being offered by a rival southwest London bid based around the sports centre at Crystal Palace.

So far only the tiny Bangladesh Olympic team have opted to train in London - they will be based at Harrow school.

India look set to train in Plaistow having used facilities there for the last two summers.