London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics

( Page 1 2 3 )
Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   Text © Copyright September 2012, Oast House Archive; licensed for re-use under a Creative Commons Licence.
Images also under a similar Creative Commons Licence.


Olympic Park

Olympic Stadium

The Olympic Stadium was the centrepiece of the Olympic and Paralympic games. Track and field competitions, and opening and closing ceremonies were held here.

TQ3784 : Wheelchair racing, Olympic Stadium by Oast House Archive TQ3783 : Olympic Stadium by Oast House Archive

Cauldron
TQ3783 : Paralympic Flame, Olympic Stadium by Oast House Archive
The cauldron was lit for the duration of each of the games. Originally lit as part of the opening ceremony, when 204 steel petal stems were attached one by one to the form the cauldron and representing the coming together of each of the countries participating in Olympic games. The same cauldron was lit again for the Paralympic games.

Aquatics Centre

The London Aquatics Centre is an indoor facility with two 50-metre (160-foot) swimming pools and a 25-metre (82-foot) diving pool. It was one of the main venues of the 2012 Summer Olympics and the 2012 Summer Paralympics. The centre was used for the swimming, diving and synchronised swimming events. After significant modification (removal of the side-wings) the centre is due to open to the public in 2014.

TQ3784 : Bridge over Waterworks River, Olympic Park by Oast House Archive TQ3784 : Paralympics swimming  men's 50M back S5 by David Hawgood

Shared Description used on 10 images
Paralympics swimming by David Hawgood
In the paralympics swimming races there are classes for physically and visually disabled competitors. There are a number of different classifications, depending on the degree of disability; the system gives close competition even between people with quite different disabilities which affect their performance to the same degree. Competitors are helped in various ways, some being helped onto the starting block, others being helped into and out of the water. Blind swimmers have helpers who tap them just before they turn or finish.


TQ3884 : Aquatics Centre, Olympics Park by David Hawgood


Copper Box

Previously known as the Handball Arena, it was renamed because, aside from handball, it hosted modern pentathlon (fencing) during the Olympics and was the goalball venue for the 2012 Summer Paralympics. The venue will be adapted to become a multi-sport arena for community use, athlete training and small-to-medium scale events. It will be the only permanent indoor arena retained in the Olympic Park, as the Basketball Arena will be relocated.

TQ3784 : Energy Centre & Copper Box, Olympic Park by Oast House Archive TQ3784 : Inside the Copperbox, Olympic Park by David Anstiss

BMX Track

Used during the Olympic games. The men’s track is 450m long and the women’s is 440m long. The track will be retained after the games but made easier and less dangerous, after numerous accidents during the games.

TQ3785 : Entrance to the BMX Track, Olympic Park E15 by Robin Sones

Velodrome

One of the permanent structures to be built for the Games, the Velodrome was built in close relationship with a design panel and cyclists to make it one of the fastest cycling tracks in the world, which was proven after a number of records were smashed during both Games.

After the Games the building was handed over to the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority to turn into a VeloPark, which will include the BMX track and a newly created mountain bike course.

TQ3785 : Velodrome by Oast House Archive TQ3785 : Eton Manor Walk by Oast House Archive TQ3785 : Velodrome by Oast House Archive

Eton Manor arena

In the northern end of the Olympic Park, accessed via a bridge over the A12 road, Eton Manor Arena was host to wheelchair tennis during the Paralympic Games. It also housed temporary training pools for aquatic events for both the Olympics and Paralympics.

TQ3785 : Eton Manor arena, Olympic Park by Oast House Archive TQ3785 : Sitting under purple umbrellas, Olympic Park by David Anstiss

Basketball Arena

The arena was the largest temporary venue ever built for a Games and will be reused for future sporting events. The arena was used for Basketball, Handball, Wheelchair Basketball and Wheelchair Rugby.

TQ3785 : Basketball Arena, Olympic Park by Oast House Archive TQ3785 : Warm up for Wheelchair Rugby by Paul Gillett

Water Polo Arena

This temporary arena was the first dedicated water polo arena to be built for an Olympic Games.

TQ3784 : The Water Polo Arena, Olympic Park E15 by Robin Sones TQ3784 : Bridge to the Water Polo Arena, Olympic Park E15 by Robin Sones

Riverbank Arena

This arena was a temporary structure where the Hockey events were held. It had two astroturf pitches, with capacities of 15,000 and 5,000, respectively, and was also the venues for the football 7-a-side and football 5-a-side competitions during the 2012 Summer Paralympics.

TQ3785 : Riverbank Arena, Olympic Park by Oast House Archive TQ3785 : Stratford: an Olympic hockey goal is scored by Chris Downer TQ3785 : The Riverbank Arena, Olympic Park (2) by David Anstiss

Orbit

Shared Description used on 39 images
The ArcelorMittal Orbit by David Anstiss
The ArcelorMittal Orbit is a 115-metre-high (377 ft) observation tower in the Olympic Park in Stratford, London. The steel sculpture is Britain's largest piece of public art,[3] and is intended to be a permanent, lasting legacy of London's hosting of the 2012 Summer Olympics, assisting in the post-Olympics regeneration of the Stratford area. Sited between the Olympic Stadium and the Aquatics Centre, it allows visitors to view the whole Olympic Park from two observation platforms.

See LinkExternal link for more details on the tower/sculpture



Orbit was designed by Anish Kapoor and Cecil Balmond



TQ3784 : ArcelorMittal Orbit, Olympic Park by Oast House Archive


Energy Station

Olympic Park Energy Centre is one of the largest combined cooling, heating and power generating facilities built in the UK. It is located at the west-end of the Olympic Park and the utilities are partly housed in the historic Kings Yard Industrial Buildings.
The facility was built for sustainable energy generation during the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The project was developed by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and was opened in October 2010.

TQ3784 : Energy Centre, Olympic Park by Oast House Archive

Shops

Megastore
The store sold official merchandise for the Olympics and Paralympics games.
TQ3784 : The London 2012 Mega-store, Olympic Park by David Anstiss

McDonald's
Two temporary McDonald's restaurants were opened in the park, one of which was the largest McDonald's in the world at the time.

TQ3783 : McDonald's, Olympics Park by Oast House Archive TQ3784 : McDonald's, Olympic Park by Oast House Archive

Kiosks and eating areas

TQ3785 : Eating area near the Basketball Arena by Oast House Archive TQ3784 : The London 2012 Mega-store, Olympic Park by David Anstiss

Promotional buildings

Used by sponsors of the Olympics and Paralympics.

Coca‑Cola Beat Box
Coca‑Cola commissioned an Olympic Park Pavilion designed to celebrate the best of British youth. The designers, Pernilla & Asif, are critically acclaimed up-and-coming architects who were selected through a process designed to help discover the next big architectural talent in the UK and give them an opportunity to showcase their talents at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

TQ3784 : Coca‑Cola Beatbox, Olympic Park by Oast House Archive TQ3784 : Beat Box, Olympic Park by Paul Gillett

Samsung
TQ3785 : Samsung glass building by Oast House Archive

BP
TQ3785 : Fueling the Future, Olympic Park by David Anstiss

Acer
TQ3784 : Acer Building, Olympic Park by Oast House Archive

Rivers

The River Lea (or Lee) in England originates in Marsh Farm, Leagrave, Luton in the Chiltern Hills and flows generally southeast, east, and then south to London, through the Olympic Park, where it meets the River Thames on the last section being known as Bow Creek.

TQ3785 : Olympic Park: view between bridges by David Martin

Waterworks River is a tidal river, one of the Bow Back Rivers that flow into the Bow Creek, as part of the River Lea, which in turn flows into the River Thames.

TQ3883 : VIP pavilion in Olympic Park by David Hawgood

Gloriana
The Gloriana is a 28.6-metre-long (94 ft) British royal barge. She was privately commissioned as a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II for her Diamond Jubilee and was the lead vessel in the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant. Gloriana carried the Olympic Flame on the River Thames on July 27, 2012, as part of a flotilla of rowing boats. The barge was moored on the Lea Navigation at the Olympic Park.

TQ3784 : Waterworks River by Oast House Archive TQ3784 : Gloriana Rowing Barge, Olympic Park by Alex McGregor TQ3784 : Gloriana Rowing Barge by Graham Hogg

Park Live

In the centre of the Olympic Park, straddling both sides of the River Lea, Park Live offered two large screens showing live events. Visitors with tickets to the park but without tickets to the venues could sit on the large expanses of parkland and enjoy the atmosphere.
TQ3784 : Park Live East, Olympic Park by Oast House Archive TQ3785 : Big Screen - Olympic Park by Paul Gillett

Entertainment


TQ3785 : Performers by the Velodrome by Oast House Archive

Bandstand on the River Lawns

TQ3785 : Sound stage, Olympic Park by Oast House Archive

Gardens

The landscaped gardens of the Olympic Park have been as integral a part of the arena as the stadium. The ambitious project to transform polluted wasteland into flourishing flower beds, meadows and woodland is designed to last beyond the London 2012 competition.

TQ3783 : Yellow meadow, Olympic Park by Oast House Archive TQ3784 : Stratford: wild flowers in the Olympic Park by Chris Downer

Security

TQ3784 : Police horses and volunteers, London Way by Oast House Archive

Olympic Village

After the games it will be converted into the new district of East Village. The architects added temporary partitioning to create "hotel" style apartments catering for: 3,300 apartments: each will have a TV, internet access, and a private courtyard.
17,320 beds: providing each athlete with 16 square metres (170 sq ft) floor space.
In addition, two temporary buildings:
Food hall: a 17,000 square metres (180,000 sq ft) food hall, which is open 24 hours a day, capable of catering for 5,500 athletes at a time.
Entertainment hall: 10,000 square metres (110,000 sq ft) entertainment area, providing games and communal rest space, plus a non-alcoholic bar.
The village also includes a plaza, where athletes can meet with friends and family.[1]

TQ3884 : Athletes'  Village, Olympic Park (3) by David Anstiss TQ3784 : Olympic Village by Oast House Archive TQ3884 : Team GB Athletes' Village, Olympic Park  by David Anstiss

London venues

ExCel

ExCeL London (Exhibition Centre London) (often referred to as the ExCeL Exhibition Centre) is an exhibition and international convention centre. For the 2012 Summer Olympics, ExCeL London was divided into five sports halls with capacities ranging from 6,000 to 10,000 that were used for boxing, fencing, judo, taekwondo, table tennis, weightlifting, and wrestling.

TQ4080 : Excel Centre by Oast House Archive TQ4180 : Excel London, Royal Victoria Docks by David Anstiss

North Greenwich Arena

The O2 Arena was renamed North Greenwich Arena for the Games.
It was used as a venue for the Basketball (final), Gymnastics (artistic, trampolining) and Wheelchair basketball (during the Paralympics).

TQ3980 : North Greenwich Arena by Oast House Archive

Horse Guards Parade

Horse Guards Parade, usually the venue for the Trooping of the Colour, was temporarily transformed into the venue for the beach volleyball tournament during the Games.

TQ2980 : London : Westminster - Horse Guards Road by Lewis Clarke

Hyde Park

Hyde Park was the venue for the triathlon and 10k marathon swim events, with the swimming taking place in the Serpentine.

TQ2780 : Olympics women's triathlon Hyde Park - start by David Hawgood TQ2780 : Olympics triathlon Hyde Park - swimmers return past the grandstand by David Hawgood TQ2779 : Olympics women's triathlon Hyde Park - cycling by David Hawgood TQ2780 : Marathon Swimming 2012 Olympics in The Serpentine by A Holmes

As a public park, it gave an opportunity for non-ticket holders to see a bit of live Olympic action.

TQ2780 : Olympics triathlon Hyde Park - spectators by David Hawgood

Lee Valley White Water Centre

This was used to host the canoe slalom events of the 2012 Summer Olympics.

TL3700 : Lee Valley White Water Centre by Mark Percy

Lords Cricket Ground

Used as the host to the archery competition, which took place in front of the Pavilion, with the archers positioned in front of the Allen Stand and the targets placed in front of the Grand Stand.

TQ2682 : Archery at Lords, 2012 Olympics by Alex McGregor TQ2682 : Archery at Lords, 2012 Olympics by Alex McGregor

The Mall

The Mall was the start and finish line for the marathon course, the road race, and the race walks of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Olympic and Paralympic marathon course, different to that of the annual London Marathon, saw a 3 lap route between the Mall, along the Thames river bank and to the City towards Tower Hill at the furthest point.

The Olympic race walks took place on a 2km course along The Mall, around the Queen Victoria Memorial and Constitution Hill.

The Olympic cycling road race, saw the route from the Mall and out of London to Box Hill in Surrey.

The Paralympic cycling

The women's marathon took place on 5 August and the men's Olympic marathon on 12 August. The men's 20km walk took place on 4 August, with the men's 50km walk and women's 20km walk took place on 11 August. The Paralympic marathons were held on 9 September.

TQ2980 : The Mall during the 2012 London Olympic Games by Colin Smith TQ3381 : Women's Marathon, 2012 Olympics, Leadenhall Market by Roger Jones

Earls Court Exhibition Centre

Earls Court hosted events at the 1948 Summer Olympics, and the volleyball events of the 2012 Summer Olympics from 28 July to 12 August.

TQ2578 : Earls Court, venue for Olympic volleyball by Nick Smith TQ2578 : Olympic volleyball at Earls Court by Nick Smith TQ2578 : West Entrance to Earl's Court Station by Nick Smith

Greenwich Park

This was the host venue for the equestrian events and for the riding and running parts of the modern pentathlon events. For the 2012 Summer Paralympics, it was also the venue for the equestrian events.

TQ3877 : London 2012 equestrian venue : Olympic family entrance  by Stephen Craven TQ3877 : Olympic arena at Greenwich Park - west stand by Stephen Craven TQ3877 : Olympic arena at Greenwich Park by Stephen Craven TQ3877 : Olympic arena at Greenwich Park - east stand by Stephen Craven

The Royal Artillery Barracks

Was used as a venue (outside the Olympic Park) for Shooting. It was then used for Archery and Shooting during the Paralympics.

TQ4277 : Spectator stand, London 2012 Archery by Ian Capper

Hampton Court Palace

The palace was the venue for the Road Cycling Time Trial of the 2012 Summer Olympics and temporary structures for the event were installed in the grounds.

TQ1568 : Preparing for the Time Trial by Peter Trimming TQ1567 : The crowd cheers on Team GB, Olympics cycling time trial by David Hawgood TQ1568 : Flag-bedecked spectators at Olympics cycling time trial by David Hawgood

Wembley Arena

Wembley Arena hosted the badminton and gymnastics competitions.

Wembley Stadium

TQ1985 : New Wembley Stadium and Arch from Olympic Way by David Hawgood TQ1985 : S Korea v Gabon line up, Olympics men's football, Wembley by David Hawgood

Wimbledon

Wimbledon hosted the Olympic tennis tournament.

KML

( Page 1 2 3 )
You are not logged in | login | register