An official contract signing took place on Tuesday, 5 April at London's O2 Arena between the Brazil Olympic Committee and GLL (Greenwich Leisure) to designate Crystal Palace National Sports Centre (CPNSC) as the 2012 Games HQ for Team Brazil.

The signing was completed by Carlos Nuzman, President of both the Brazilian Olympic Committee and the Rio 2016 Organising Committee, GLL Directors Peter Bundey and Mark Sesnan.

They were accompanied at the ceremony by Mayor of London Boris Johnson, the London Development Agency, the British Olympic Association and VIP event hosts AEG and Greenwich Council.

The agreement to establish a 2012 HQ next summer will be the first time this style of preparation base has used by Brazil. Crystal Palace National Sports Centre and GLL were selected by Brazil because of the wide range of International standard facilities at the Centre coupled with GLL's extensive event and elite sport hosting experience.

The HQ will operate throughout the build up to and during the Olympic Games period, from 10th July to 13th August 2012. Further preparation camps are also already being planned between GLL and the Brazilian Olympic Committee for 2011 and beyond 2012.

Brazilian Olympic Committee President Carlos Arthur Nuzman said, "Signing this historic agreement is a major step in the preparation plans for Team Brazil in 2012, while also laying the foundations for Brazil's planning for the 2016 Games. "We are confident that Crystal Palace National Sports Centre will offer the best possible training and preparation environment for our athletes, enabling them to achieve the best possible sporting results. In addition, the sports centre will house all members of the Brazilian delegation not accredited to the Olympic Village such as doctors, assistant coaches and physiotherapists - forming the headquarters for Brazil during the London Games."

The presence of Team Brazil at Crystal Palace during the London Games will give a significant boost to the wider local economy, further spreading the benefits of staging the London Games.

GLL, the London Development Agency and Team Brazil will also work on sporting and cultural outreach within the local community and across London.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, sai:d "Crystal Palace is a world renowned centre for sporting excellence and why Team Brazil, with some of the world's finest athletes in its squad, has chosen it as its 2012 base. "Their arrival spreads the benefits of the Games to yet another part of the city providing Londoners with a range of opportunities from business to employment as they meet the needs of Brazil's elite during their stay in South London."

A full range of Olympic athletes and technical staff will be hosted at the Centre, including; volleyball, beach volleyball, handball, basketball, taekwondo, boxing, athletics, swimming, and diving.

Peter Bundey, GLL Director is delighted to have secured the agreement and is confident that there can be long term opportunities to benefit from sporting ties with Brazil. "This is a fantastic opportunity to embrace the Olympic message in the local community as well as to forge international links with the host nation for 2016. We are confident that Crystal Palace will deliver the ideal base for Brazil's top class athletes".

Cllr Chris Roberts, Leader of Greenwich Council added, "As one of the London 2012 host boroughs and the home of GLL (Greenwich Leisure) we offer our warmest welcome to the Brazilian Olympic Committee and commend their choice of Crystal Palace National Sports Centre as their training base. "We are particularly proud that GLL, which originated as an innovative spin-out from Greenwich Council, will now be at the heart of the London Games, hosting and facilitating the preparation of a key national team and a future host nation."

The British Olympic Association were also in attendance to support the Crystal Palace agreement and to sign their own Memorandum of Understanding with the Brazil Olympic Committee. Andy Hunt, CEO of the British Olympic Association commented; "We are delighted that the Brazilian Olympic Committee has chosen Crystal Palace National Sports Centre as its training base in the run up to and during the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Crystal Palace is one of London's landmark sporting venues, with a fantastic range of sporting facilities coupled with specialist knowledge and support services. Brazil's presence will add another chapter to its rich sporting heritage.

Photograph: The Brazilian delegation touring Crystal Palace National Sports Centre on Sunday 3rd April 2011