HIGH-ranking Gauteng provincial government officials leaving tomorrow on a 10-day study tour to London and Doha to learn more about models and practices of sports academies and villages.

In London, the delegation will visit various English Premiership clubs in addition touring the London Olympics villages.

The study tour is organised by the Gauteng department of sports, arts, culture and recreation and will be led by MEC Lebogang Maile.

"The department is currently in the process of conducting feasibility studies and research around the creation of a Gauteng Sports Village, the department's media director Nino Zama said."

"The 2012 Summer Olympic Games will be a great platform for the department to position the province among leaders in industry on hosting and managing events of such a nature."

The delegation will meet prominent industry players as well as promote Gauteng as a "home of champions" while supporting Team South African at the Olympics.

The delegation will also visit the Aspire Sports Academy in Qatar, Manchester Football Club Training Centre and their Sports City, as well as Loughbrough High-Performance Centre in Leicestershire.

"We will also have a meeting with some of the English Premiership clubs to establish partnerships that will also benefit the people of Gauteng," Maile said.

The creation of the Gauteng Sports Village was announced by premier Nomvula Mokonyana during her state of the province address in March.

"The department has commenced with the planning phase of the project and part of this includes undertaking study tours to identified countries," Zama said.