The U.S. Olympic team will be training in a high-performance center just outside Beijing in the days leading up to the 2008 Olympics in China's capital.
American officials announced an agreement on Monday with Beijing Normal University to set up dining, lodging and training facilities for about 400 athletes just before the August 8-24 Games.
"It allows the U.S. Olympic athletes to train in conditions that are conducive for high performance," said Steve Roush, who heads sports performance for the United States Olympic Committee. "And it provides the comforts of home with great facilities, good restaurants and sleeping space for our team before the Games."
The United States established a similar site at the American University of Greece before the 2004 Olympics. The Americans topped the gold-medal table three years ago with 36, just four ahead of China, which is expected to be its great rival in Beijing.
The United States also announced plans to set up a USA House near Workers' Stadium in central Beijing. The stadium will be a venue for soccer during the Games.
