London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Paralympic cyclists train at a velodrom

 

In 2012 London will be hosting the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. To increase participation, it is vital that all the purpose-built venues not only perform during the competitions, but serve sport and local communities well after the last medal has been won. And this is where Sport England comes in.

Swimming and diving

The Aquatics Centre will host the swimming and diving events at the Games and will be an iconic landmark during the event. 

Our £40 million investment into the Aquatics Centre is focussed on ensuring that the facility can be adapted for use by the community after the games.

Its two 50m pools and diving pool with moveable floors capable of reducing depth for swimming lessons will provide a legacy facility for local, regional and national activities.

We are also working with the Amateur Swimming Association, five London boroughs and the University of East London to develop a strategy and usage programme that allows swimmers and divers to progress from recreation to international performance.

The Aquatics Centre will contribute to the achievement of our outcomes by:

Grow

Local community sessions involving schools and local groups as well as open taster sessions shall be established and delivered as part of a comprehensive swimming programme.

Sustain

Quality of provision and service will be linked to QUEST accreditation and will be tailored to local and regional needs to achieve regular participation in the sport across the community.

Excel

Talent development programmes will form an important part of the facility programme, achieving local and regional progression as well as serving the national squad for training and competition.

Cycling

The Velopark will host the Velodrome and BMX based cycling events. After the games, a road circuit and off-road trail will be added to the existing facilities. This will create a centre for all types of cycling - community and elite, local regional and national, recreation, training and competition - in the Lower Lee Valley.

We are contributing up to £10.5m towards this project. It will contribute towards our outcomes by:

Grow

London does not have an indoor track and the creation one of one is a strategic priority for British Cycling. Local community sessions involving schools and local groups as well as open taster sessions will be created.

Sustain

This new facility allows riders who have had a taster serssion or who ride the outdoor tracks in the summer to continue cycling during the winter. The road, bmx and mountain bike trails will be used all year round and the road circuit can also be used by inline skaters and runners.

Excel

The Velopark will be used for talent spotting sessions and regional squad training. It will also be able to to host the national squad for training and competition.

Canoeing

The Broxbourne White Water Canoe Slalom Course will host the canoe slalom preliminary and final competitions during the games.

Afterwards, it will available for use by local, regional and national groups. Elite canoe slalom athletes will use it fro training and competition. Local community participants will be able to get involved through new canoe clubs; while rafters will be able to take part through corporate and social events.

We are investing £900,000 towards this project and  it will contribute towards our outcomes by:

Grow

The south east does not have a white water canoe slalom course and has been a strategic priority for the British Canoe Union. Local community sessions involving schools and local groups as well as open taster sessions and corporate team building days shall be established and delivered from this facility;

Sustain

The new facility will allow participants to take part in a new activity normally associated with hilly or mountainous terrain on a floodplain 20 minutes from London.

It will be used all year round and has a sports development plan aimed at providing opportunities to provide regular participation opportunities and reduce drop off in participation for young people aged 16-18.

Excel

Broxbourne will be used for talent spotting sessions and regional squad training. It will also able to host World and European championships and national squad training and competition.

Handball Arena and Eton Manor

We are represented on the Olympic Develoment Agency's  Steering Group for the Handball Arena and Eton Manor.

Although we are not funding these venues, we are providing expertise and sharing best practice on facility construction and operation to ensure a lasting legacy.

The Handball Arena provides a 12 court badminton hall with changing facilities and a seating capacity of approximately. 7,000. It will host the Handball Preliminary Competition, the Modern Pentathlon Fencing Competition and the Paralympic Games Goalball Preliminary and Finals Competition.

After the games, the arena will provide multi-sports opportunities for the local community including handball, basketball, badminton, volleyball, netball and indoor football as well as hosting events with a seating capacity of approximately 6,000.

Eton Manor will be used as an Olympic Games training facility and in the Paralympics will be the location for archery and wheelchair tennis competitions.

Afterwards, the venue will change into a two pitch hockey facility with a commercial 5-a-side football and tennis centre to benefit the local community and provide training facilities for both amateur and professional athletes

Sailing

We have previously funded the redevelopment of Weymouth and Portland National Sailing academy (2003-2005).

This funding was made through the English Institute of Sport Programme in conjunction with the academy and the South West Regional Development Agency. We contributed £3 million towards the total project costs of approximately £7 million.

 

 

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