The Samoa Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee has signed a deal which will see Yamagata become the host city for the country's athletes prior to Tokyo 2020 ©SASNOC

The Samoa Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee has signed a deal which will see Yamagata become the host city for the country's athletes prior to Tokyo 2020.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed which will also see cultural and sporting exchanges between Samoa and Yamagata take place.

Samoan training camps prior to Tokyo 2020 will be now be held in Yamagata while the city will also arrange accommodation and transport.

The agreement was penned by Samoa's Ambassador to Japan, Faalavaau Perina Jacqueline Sila-Tualaulelei, and the Mayor of Yamagata Takahiro Sato.

"This MoU provides the framework for a deeper relationship between Samoa and Yamagata City including through hosting Samoa's Olympic delegations for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games and, cultural and sports exchanges between Samoa and Yamagata," said Faalavaau, according to Radio NZ.

Ele Opeloge is Samoa's only Olympic medallist ©Getty Images
Ele Opeloge is Samoa's only Olympic medallist ©Getty Images

Samoa won silver in weightlifting at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, their only Olympic medal to date.

It came courtesy of Ele Opeloge in the women's over-75 kilograms class but she had to wait until 2016 for confirmation after she was elevated due to doping disqualifications.

The addition of rugby sevens to the programme has given Samoa renewed hope of sending larger delegations to the Summer Olympics.

The 2019 Pacific Games will be held in Samoa after the country stepped in to replace Tonga, who withdrew citing financial concerns.

A deal has also been signed by the Oceania National Olympic Committees to hold Tokyo 2020 training camps in Japanese city Fukuoka.