Sporting stars from the Cameroonian Olympic team mingled with shoppers at Aberdeen’s Union Square on Thursday at their first official event in the city.

The shopping centre welcomed around 30 members of the team by covering the ‘U’ outside Union Square in the Cameroon flag, showing support for the nation in the upcoming Games later this month.

A meet and greet session took place in the atrium at Union Square as shoppers and sports enthusiasts alike had the opportunity to chat to the athletes and have their picture taken. A pair of tickets to the Scotland versus Cameroon football game at Aberdeen Sports Village, to be held on July 15, was also handed out to a lucky competition winner.

The event at Union Square is one of several community and cultural engagement activities the Cameroonian Olympic team is taking part in where they will have the opportunity to meet members of the public and aim to inspire the region’s sporting youths.

The African team’s London 2012 pre-games training camp runs from July 4 to July 22, and will see 43 athletes taking part from across five sporting disciplines.

Ryan Manson, general manager at Union Square, said: “We are delighted to be able to give a helping hand in providing the Cameroonian Olympic team with a big warm Aberdonian welcome during their stay in the city. We also thank them hugely for taking time out of their gruelling pre-competition training schedules to come see us.

“The visit was a fantastic opportunity for people throughout the City and Shire to meet an Olympic athlete up close, and gave the chance for budding future Olympians to ask questions on what it takes to succeed in the world of sport.”

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