As the excitement surrounding London 2012 builds, attention turns to the amazing venues that will host all the sporting action for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. From London’s established sports venues like Lord’s Cricket Ground, to the new, state-of-the-art Olympic Stadium, London 2012 is sure to make a lasting impression. The Olympic and Paralympic Games will even make use of some of London’s famous landmarks, providing an incredible backdrop for this momentous occasion.

Existing Sports Venues for London 2012

London is home to some of the most famous sports venues and sporting locations in the world, and London 2012 is the ideal opportunity to see them at their best.

More commonly associated with conferences and exhibitions, ExCel London will be used during the Olympic and Paralympic Games to host a number of sports, including:

* Boxing

* Fencing

* Olympic and Paralympic Table Tennis

* Wheelchair Basketball

Olympic Volleyball will be held at the 15,000-seat Earls Court, another famous London exhibition space.

London’s legendary sporting institutions will of course be called into action for London 2012. Lords Cricket Ground will host the Archery, while Wimbledon will welcome the Tennis to its hallowed grass courts.

Wembley Stadium, also known as the home of football, will host the Olympic football events during London 2012. The main difference between Olympic football and FIFA football, which is usually played at Wembley, is the amateur status of the players.

As one of London’s newest venues, The O2 has already firmly established itself as a world-class multi-purpose venue. As well as many incredible concerts, The O2 has hosted some prestigious sporting events, including boxing, basketball, netball and tennis.

During London 2012, The O2 will be renamed North Greenwich Arena 1, and will host the Gymnastics and Basketball finals. Next door, North Greenwich Arena 2 (a new, temporary venue), will feature Badminton, Rhythmic Gymnastics and Volleyball.

Brand New Olympic Park Opens for London 2012

The brand new Olympic Park in East London will be the main location for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In it, some fantastic, purpose-built venues will create a lasting sporting legacy for London. The new venues include:

* Aquatics Centre

* Basketball Arena

* VeloPark

* Handball Arena

* Hockey Centre

The innovative 80-000-seat Olympic Stadium will be the central venue within the Olympic Park. It will host all of the athletics events during London 2012 and will also be the location for the opening and closing ceremonies.

London Landmarks Become Sporting Locations for London 2012

Greenwich Park is set to become a stunning location for the Olympic Equestrian, Paralympic Equestrian and Modern Pentathlon events. A beautiful World Heritage Site, the park will be transformed into a cross-country course with arena for 23,000 spectators for the duration of London 2012.

The historic Royal Artillery Barracks, which dates back to 1776, will provide the perfect location for the Olympic and Paralympic Shooting events. Temporary indoor and outdoor ranges will be built especially for London 2012, along with grandstands for 7,500 spectators.

The Road Cycling course will take in some of London’s best open spaces, including Hampstead Heath and Regent’s Park, where it will reach its thrilling conclusion in front of 3,000 seated spectators.

Elsewhere in Hyde Park a temporary structure will be built for spectators to watch the Olympic Triathlon and 10k Open Water Swim in the Serpentine. One of London’s largest open spaces, Hyde Park will also host a series of cultural events to accompany London 2012.

Famed as the home of the annual Trooping The Colour ceremony to celebrate the Queen’s Birthday, Horse Guards Parade will provide an unusual venue for London 2012! The 250-year-old courtyard will be filled with sand and a temporary arena will be built to host the Olympic Beach Volleyball competition.

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Category: Sports
Keywords: olympics, london, 2012, paralympics, venues