Stratford

        

The new 2012 Olympic Park is at the heart of east London with the 500-acre site in the Lower Lea Valley in Stratford the setting for a compact, secure and easily accessible home for the 2012 Games, just seven minutes from central London.

Nine new venues will be situated within easy walking distance of each other, allowing competitors and spectators alike to experience the unique atmosphere of an Olympic Games. The main 80,000-seat Olympic Stadium will host the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, as well as the Athletics events.

The park will feature a world-class Aquatics Centre, which will include two 50m swimming pools and a diving pool. The Hockey Centre will comprise two stadia with different capacities, plus a warm up pitch. The Velopark will include the Velodome and a BMX track, while the four multi-sport arenas will be the setting for Fencing, Volleyball, Basketball and Handball. The Park will also house the Olympic Village, providing accommodation for every competitor and official.

Archaeological investigations at the site of the 2012 Olympic Park have located treasures including a 4,000-year-old flint axe head. The investigation team has discovered pieces dating back over the centuries showing that the site has been settled and used for thousands of years.

The project, run by the Museum of London and the Olympic Delivery Authority, has been the UK’s largest archaeological survey, with more than 140 trenches dug over the 2.5 square-kilometer park area. Find out more