Jang Mi-ran lifts weights during a practice session in Taeneung. / Korea Times photos by Shim Hyun-chul

By Kang Seung-woo

With the London Olympics just around the corner, Team Korea is stepping up its efforts to make a top-10 finish for a thirdstraight time. The 2012 Summer Games will run from July 27 to Aug. 12.

Korea, which has established itself as a sports heavyweight, finished ninth in 2004 and seventh in 2008.

In order to reach its goal, Korea will dispatch a total of 240 athletes to compete in 22 events to London, where the nation made its Olympic debut in 1948.

For the first time, Team Korea will set up a training camp in London at Brunel University which will be equipped with medical staff and nutritionists that will provide Korean food for athletes during the games.