2012 Olympic Games
The greatest show on earth is coming to London
London will host the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in the summer of 2012. The 608-acre Olympic Park is situated in the vicinity of Stratford, in the Lower Lea Valley. The park stretches from Temple Mills in the north to Pudding Mill Lane in the south, on the edge of Mill Meads.
World-class venues elsewhere in London will also accommodate Olympic and Paralympic events. These will include tennis at Wimbledon, archery at Lord’s, the triathlon in Hyde Park, road cycling in Regent’s Park, volleyball at Earls Court, beach volleyball on Horse Guards Parade, football at Wembley Stadium and shooting at the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich. Wembley Arena and the ExCel exhibition centre will each host several events.
An 80,000-seat Olympic stadium in west Stratford is the centrepiece of the purpose-built development. After the games the capacity of the stadium will be scaled down and it is likely to retain its athletics role. West Ham United are hopeful that the stadium will become the club’s new home, though this remains uncertain at the time of writing.
Hidden London supported London’s application to host the games from Day One and is proud to have displayed ‘Back the Bid’ banners and links during the International Olympic Committee’s selection process. Unfortunately, your impoverished author couldn’t afford to apply for a ticket to attend any of the events but will be there in spirit throughout this magnificent series of sporting challenges – which will showcase London as the greatest city in the world.
- See also Hidden London’s opinion on the names of the Olympic Park neighbourhoods and the post-games athletes’ village.
