2012 SUMMER OLYMPIC & PARALYMPIC GAMES

 

XXX Olympiad
27 July o 12 August 2012
XIV Paralympics 29 August to 9 September 2012

London's dream has become reality

The excitement throughout London and the U.K. was tremendous following the announcement in Singapore on 6 July 2005 that London had been successful in its bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games and many celebratory parties were held. It had been nerve racking as one by one candidate cities were eliminated and it boiled down to a nail-biting contest between Paris, the long term favourite, and London; with London finally winning through and gaining those all important couple of votes to take the day.

Not since 1948 have the Olympic Games been held in Britain and London was determined to do everything possible to try and win the games for 2012.

Following on from a successful Athens Olympic Games, when U.K. won a total of 30 medals, enthusiasm has mounted with many medals winners throwing themselves wholeheartedly behind the bid, which was being led by Lord Sebastian Coe, himself an Olympic medal holder. British rowers have excelled themselves in recent Olympics and Xmas 2004 saw Sir Steve Redgrave, ably assisted by successful 2004 Sprint Relay Team, switching on the Oxford Street Christmas lights, with an Olympic theme which could be seen for miles around. The darling of the Athens Olympic Medallists as far as th U.K. goes, Kelly Holmes, was also to be seen at events promoting London's bid.

The Royal Family demonstrated their support for the bid and entertained the Olympic evaluation team to a lavish supper at Buckingham Palace, serving British fare. Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, was at one time a member of the British Olympic Equestrian Team. Princess Anne's daughter, Zara, whose father Mark Phillips is another famous name in the equestrian world, is following in her famous parents' footsteps and is in the top echelon of British equestrian competitors.

Even rivals like British Airways and Virgin Atlantic buried the hatchet to come out in support of London's Bid, and it was all hands on board as the Royal Navy got behind the bid.

London's ambitious plans include planning the Olympics around some of London's most historic sights such as volleyball on Horse Guards Parade, Hyde Park to figure in the Triathlon, archery at Lord's Cricket Ground, tennis in its rightful place at Wimbledon to mention but a few. The new Wembley Stadium will host the football finals, with earlier matches taking place at venues throughout the country. The Millenium Dome will be the centre for gymnastics, to which it will lend itself perfectly.

The centre piece will be a new, purpose built stadium in east London in the lower Lea Valley, an area much in need of development. It is envisaged that the stadium will seat some 80,000 and will be the stage for opening and closing ceremonies, the Marathon final as well all athletic events; also incorporating a multi-sports facility and aquatic centre, with the Olympic Village for athletes nearby. This would be the Olympic legacy to an area much in need of regeneration.

London is used to visitors and there is no question of any shortage of hotel accommodation, a natural annual increase in the numbers of hotel rooms available will more than cope with the demand anticipated for the Olympics.

Transport might, at one time, have been considered London's Achilles' heel but no longer. Plans are well under way for new underground lines, Channel Tunnel direct links etc which will take care of all movements between venues.

As well as the Olympics, London is such a treasure trove of tradition, as well as cultural and historical interest, that it offers something for everyone, on top of the thrill of the XXX Olympiad. Sightseeing and places of interest abound whichever way you look.