UK support for 2012 Olympics continues to grow.

[Blackleaf]

UK Support for the London 2012 Games Continues to Grow

London 2012, 4 July 2006

The world's best stadium will be completed in 2011

One year on and support for the Games is higher than ever, according to Sports Marketing Surveys, the company that conducted research immediately after the announcement in Singapore last year and again just two weeks ago.

In 2005, the research indicated 53% of people felt that hosting the Games in 2012 would positively transform British sport and 33% of people felt that hosting the Games would encourage children to do more sport in the next 12 months.

In this year's research, 59% of people questioned believe that winning the Olympic and Paralympic Games is already encouraging children to play more sport.

"The vision we took to Singapore was to reach young people all around the world, to connect them with the inspirational power of the Games so they are inspired to choose sport," said London 2012 Organising Committee Chief Executive Paul Deighton. "It is encouraging that people believe this is already happening. We hope to see more and more children being inspired to choose sport as we move towards 2012."

The current research also showed a strong belief that the London 2012 Games would have an impact across the whole of the UK with 81% of respondents agreeing with this statement.

"While London is hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012, these Games are for the whole of the UK," said Deighton. "The London 2012 Roadshow that will be traveling around the UK in July will help to reinforce this message and show people in all nations and regions how they can become part of 2012 and really benefit from the Games."

The survey also showed a widespread belief that businesses will benefit from the Games, with 91% of people agreeing that many companies and brands will want to sponsor the Games. This is very much reflected in the strong interest that London 2012 has already received from companies about the business opportunities and benefits that partnering the Games can offer.

CEO of London 2012 Paul Deighton said, "Just one year on from winning the bid to host the 2012 Games, it is great to learn that people share the view that the Games are for everyone and that specific groups such as children are already being inspired to get more involved in sport. This definitely fits with the reactions I get from people around the country who are overwhelmingly positive and enthusiastic about how the Games can be a real catalyst for change."

britainusa.com

 

[Blackleaf]

Where the sports will be staged

New stadiums and historic sites


The Guardian

The main Olympic Park will be in Stratford, east London, but will be other venues across the city. The stadium looks very different with the roof open (above). When the roof closes, a "skin" envelops the whole stadium.


New venues in Olympic Park, Stratford, east London

1 Olympic Stadium (athletics, opening/closing ceremonies)

An 80,000-seat Olympic stadium at Marshgate Lane at the hub of Stratford's planned Olympic precinct is proposed.

After the games, it would become a 25,000-seat athletics stadium including a sports training, science and medicine centre.
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2 Aquatic centre (swimming, diving, synchronised swimming, water polo finals)

Two 50-metre swimming pools are being built alongside a diving pool. The capacity will be 20,000.
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3 Velodrome and BMX track (track cycling and BMX cycling)

Located at the Eastway Sports Centre alongside the existing Eastway cycling circuit for track and BMX cycling. 6,000 spectators could fit into each.
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4 Hockey complex

Situated alongside the Olympic Village site, the 15,000-capacity outdoor complex would comprise two stadiums for competition and one warm-up pitch.
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5 Multi-sport complex (basketball, handball, volleyball, modern pentathlon)

Located at Hackney Wick on the site of the former Hackney Greyhound stadium, there will be four sporting arenas hosting the events.
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6 Tennis complex

The facilities will also be used as an Olympic training venue and for the Paralympic competition venue.
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Other new venues


Greenwich peninsula hall 1 & 2 (badminton, gymnastics, table tennis)

Next door to the dome, it will be a temporary indoor venue with a 6,000 capacity.
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Broxbourne (canoeing slalom)

A new, 12,000-seat canoe slalom venue would be built at Broxbourne in Hertfordshire, to the north of the main Olympic zone.
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Existing venues


Wembley stadium (football finals)

The new home of the England football team, Wembley stadium is the most expensive sporting stadium in the world - costing three-quarters of a billion pounds. It's also the world's largest football stadium with all the seats undercover.

The new £757m Wembley, with a 90,000 capacity, is set to open next year. The stadium, complete with sliding roof, is situated where the 1948 Olympics football was hosted.
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Wimbledon (tennis)

The All England Club needs no alterations to host the Olympics, particularly as the retractable roof for Centre Court should be in place well before the games.
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Lord's [[home of the England cricket team]] (archery)

Archery will be staged in front of the famous pavilion with seating for 6,500 spectators. New portable pitch technology could allow groundstaff to safeguard the wicket by lifting it.
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Horse Guards Parade (beach volleyball)

Horse Guards Parade is London's largest single open space and will be easy to fill with sand and courts. It is next to Tony Blair's Downing Street residence. Mr Blair is said to be excited at the prospect of beach volleyball within eye-shot of his home.
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Hyde Park (triathlon, road cycling)

Hyde Park is easy on the eye, making it an ideal place to showcase the gruelling triathlon. A 3,000-seat temporary grandstand would be erected. The swimming leg will take place in the Serpentine.
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Regent's Park (baseball, softball)

A 10,000-capacity baseball and 8,000-capacity softball venue will be made. The cycling road races - which are also set to take in Hampstead Heath - will pass through the park, with seating provided for 3,000 spectators.
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Greenwich Park (equestrian, modern pentathlon)

Greenwich Park is London's oldest royal park and will be another scenic venue. It is where the London Marathon gets under way each year.
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ExCel exhibition centre (boxing, judo, taekwondo, weightlifting, wrestling, table tennis)

The 65,000 square-metre venue, opened five years ago, is said to have the largest column-free hall in Europe. It would host four separate arenas, accommodating between 6,000 and 10,000 spectators.
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The Millennium Dome (gymnastics - artistic/ trampolining, basketball finals)

The Dome could restore its reputation when it is turned into a 20,000-seat sports and entertainment centre next year. Next to the dome, a temporary, 6,000-capacity Greenwich arena will be built.
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Royal Artillery Barracks, Woolwich (shooting)

Bisley in Surrey was originally planned as the host for shooting but concerns from the IOC about the spread of venues changed that. The temporary indoor venue can house 7,500 spectators.
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Eton Dorney rowing centre (rowing and flatwater canoe/kayak events)

The venue for the World Rowing Championships next year will be improved further to seat 20,000 Olympic spectators.
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Weald Country Park, Essex (mountain biking)

Temporary seating for 3,000 spectators will be set up in the park, which contains the remains of an iron-age settlement.
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Weymouth-Portland (rowing, canoeing, mountain biking, sailing, football)

The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, which was developed from an old naval station, opened recently and is practically ready for the games as it stands.

Other football events to be held in other parts of the country -

Hampden Park, Glasgow

Millennium stadium, Cardiff

Old Trafford, Manchester

St James's Park, Newcastle

Villa Park, Birmingham

Windsor Park, Belfast

dailymail.co.uk

 

[JonB2004]

RE: UK support for 2012 O

I don't think Britain should be hosting the Olympics right now. They are running a large deficit which means that after the Olympics they are going to suffer financially.

 

[athabaska]

Those sure are butt ugly designs. Sterile. Something out of 'the future' as designed in the 1930's. Brits spend too much time living in a crowded sardine can and need more nature...greenery, trees...and less swirly steel, glass and concrete.