London 2012

cam · Post by **cam** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 10:07 am

London 2012 Ltd have released plans for Olympic venues and the Olympic Park.

The Olympic Park in east London, lies at the heart of the London 2012 bid.

The 500-acre site in Stratford would provide a compact, secure and easily accessible home for the Games, seven minutes from central London.

Nine new venues would be situated within easy walking distance of each other, allowing competitors and spectators alike to experience the unique atmosphere of an Olympic Games.

The main 80,000-seat Olympic Stadium would host the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, as well as the Athletics events.

Work has already started on the world-class Aquatics Centre, which will include two 50m swimming pools and a diving pool.

The Hockey Centre would comprise two stadia with different capacities, plus a warm up pitch.

The Velopark would include the Velodome and a BMX track, while the four multi-sport arenas would be the setting for Fencing, Volleyball, Basketball and Handball.

The Park would also house the Olympic Village, providing accommodation for every competitor and official, with 80 per cent within 20 minutes of their event venues.

The compact , green site would also include a state-of-the-art media centre providing facilities for broadcast and print journalists from all over the world.

The best-ever Games transport system would deliver up to 240,000 people an hour to the Olympic Park by tube, train, bus and via park and ride schemes.

Full planning permission for the Olympic Park has already been granted, a decision that London 2012 Chairman Sebastian Coe called 'a major milestone'.

Lord Coe said: "If we win the right to host the Games next July, work could begin the very next day."

Visit www.london2012.com for more info.

These photos thanks to Getty Images: (not sure why I can't get them showing here, so instead, I've provided the links to them)

Main Stadium
http://cache.gettyimages.com/comp/51696 ... 5AE85A779B

Wembley - Football finals
http://cache.gettyimages.com/comp/52123 ... 5AE85A779B

Velodrome within the main Olympic Park in East London
http://cache.gettyimages.com/comp/52123 ... 5AE85A779B

The Dome which would host gymnastics events
http://cache.gettyimages.com/comp/52123 ... 5AE85A779B

One of the Multi-sport arenas within the main Olympic Park
http://cache.gettyimages.com/comp/52123 ... 5AE85A779B

Lords - Archery
http://cache.gettyimages.com/comp/52123 ... 5AE85A779B

Volleyball which would take place at Horse Guard's Parade in the heart of London's Whitehall
http://cache.gettyimages.com/comp/52122 ... 5AE85A779B

Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Club
http://cache.gettyimages.com/comp/52122 ... 5AE85A779B

London's first new Olympic venue - state-of-the-art Aquatics Centre
(will be built even if London is not selected to host the 2012 Olympic Games)
http://cache.gettyimages.com/comp/52122 ... 5AE85A779B

http://cache.gettyimages.com/comp/52122 ... 5AE85A779B

Olympic Park (contains the Olympic Stadium, the Aquatics Centre, the Velodrome and BMX Circuit, three sports arenas, the Hockey Centre and the media facillities. The Park would also house the Olympic Village, accomodating up to 17,800 athletes and officials)
http://cache.gettyimages.com/comp/51696 ... 5AE85A779B

More photos: http://editorial.gettyimages.com/source ... |0|0|0&p=1

There you have it. I thought they were planning to use Wembley as the main stadium?

hot_dogma · Post by **hot_dogma** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 10:56 am

Interesting. You wouldn't want to watch football in the main stadium. Look how far the pitch is from the fence! Even the athletics track is some distance in.
This sounds far fetched I know but with the size of the playing arena, I wonder if the thought of it ever being used for cricket after the games if it was to be held ever entered their minds?

Jeffles · Post by **Jeffles** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 11:13 am

When I was in London 18 months ago they spoke about rejuvinating the East End (which is called the East Side by politicians that are afraid of connotations) and using the Olympics as the main spur.

The stadium is ambitious. What will become of it after the Games.

Egan · Post by **Egan** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 12:16 pm

It won't happen, reading reports in England the officials have basically conceded that they will not win the bid and that it is impossible to beat Paris.

You will find that Paris is the host of the 2012 Olympics...not too far for Londoners anyways.

Cheesie-the-Pirate · Post by **Cheesie-the-Pirate** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 12:56 pm

hot_dogma wrote:Interesting. You wouldn't want to watch football in the main stadium. Look how far the pitch is from the fence! Even the athletics track is some distance in.
This sounds far fetched I know but with the size of the playing arena, I wonder if the thought of it ever being used for cricket after the games if it was to be held ever entered their minds?

They're playing Soccer at Wembley, aren't they?

Anywho, I'm a big fan of London 2012.

Transport is going to be the big issue for any London bid, and it is damned annoying that Paris is the front runner. But Sydney managed to beat Beijing, so anything is possible.

It is great for the Olympic Movement that the three frontrunners are three of the four great global cities. A great games for sure.

cam · Post by **cam** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 1:22 pm

Yes Soccer is being played at Wembley. However the norm for Olympic Games is for the final to be played at the main stadium. Obviously in this situation, Wembley would host it.

james_ · Post by **james_** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 1:53 pm

HMS Cheesemaker wrote:Anywho, I'm a big fan of London 2012.

No surprises there!

james_ · Post by **james_** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 1:59 pm

Jeffles wrote:The stadium is ambitious. What will become of it after the Games.

Maybe they'll do a "City of Manchester".

Just read on London2012.org that it'll be reconfigured to a 25,000 seat Athletics stadium.

Jeffles · Post by **Jeffles** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 4:04 pm

james_ wrote:
Jeffles wrote:The stadium is ambitious. What will become of it after the Games.
Maybe they'll do a "City of Manchester".

Just read on London2012.org that it'll be reconfigured to a 25,000 seat Athletics stadium.

That's some downsizing. A stadium of that kind would do well. track and field is quite popular in the UK and they could use the ground to host a Golden League meet.

Cheesie-the-Pirate · Post by **Cheesie-the-Pirate** » Thu Feb 03, 2005 9:50 pm

james_ wrote:
HMS Cheesemaker wrote:Anywho, I'm a big fan of London 2012.
No surprises there!

What, me predictable?

Next thing you know I might defend Rugby League or deny that Australian Rules football is the national football code...... please note: I am NOT trying to hijack this thread!

tom · Post by **tom** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 12:53 am

2012 really is a battle of the heavy weights, it will be interesting.
New York, London, Paris, Moscow and Madrid.
My tip is Paris, possibly New York. Don't see the others winning.

Egan · Post by **Egan** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 12:57 am

New York and Madrid come to close after Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996.

I think Paris have it in the bag...their was going to be a TV Debate on BBC but the IOC banned the debate.

A pity would have been great to watch

Tancred · Post by **Tancred** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 7:50 am

I would be very surprised in Paris does not win it.

HoldenV8 · Post by **HoldenV8** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 8:02 am

I have to agree with Cam. Why wouldn't they use Wembley as the main stadium? After all, isn't it being built to be able to accomodate an athletics track anyway? Wouldn't it make more financial and logical sense to use Wembley rather than spend countless millions on a new, and possibly temporary stadium?

the whole idea sounds pretty ridiculous if you ask me. Having a stadium that can hold 90,000 with provisions for an athletics track in London then go and built a temporary 80,000 seat stadium to be downsized after the games? Doesn't make sense.

Jeffles · Post by **Jeffles** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 9:11 am

HoldenV8 wrote:the whole idea sounds pretty ridiculous if you ask me. Having a stadium that can hold 90,000 with provisions for an athletics track in London then go and built a temporary 80,000 seat stadium to be downsized after the games? Doesn't make sense.

The city want to pour funds into East London. It will be difficult to justify this if they use existing stadium.