The Vietnamese sports team landed at London's Gatwick Airport on July 20 and was warmly welcomed by a representative from the  London 2012 Olympics.

The athletes were taken to the Olympic Village and checked into their rooms, saying they were all very satisfied with the accommodations.

The team received great support from four UK volunteers and a Vietnamese research student.

  

Vietnamese sports officials and athletes at Gatwick Airport

Two Vietnamese rowers, Pham Thi Thao and Pham Thi Hai, and their Australian advisor, Zoedonne, will not stay in the village because they have to move closer to their competition venues.

Zoedonne has been with the rowing team for two years and provided athletes with valuable experience and financial resources to attend training sessions in his homeland.

Weightlifter Tran Le Quoc Toan and his trainer also joined the team later the same day.

Toan has successfully completed practicing in Bulgaria and is considered one of Vietnam's main hopes for a medal.

He will compete in the men’s 56kg event, which earned his predecessor Hoang Anh Tuan a silver medal four years ago in Beijing.

The young weightlifter has been widely known since the 26th SEA Games in Indonesia last year, when he overcame great pressure to pocket a gold medal.

He also came in an impressive second at the 2012 Asian Weightlifting Championships in the Republic of Korea.

The Vietnamese athletes will join the Team Welcome Ceremonies with the protocol of flag raising at 11.30am GMT on July 21.

(VOV)