London and the Olympic and Paralympic Games
Did you know 2012 is the third time
that London will host the Games?
London 1908
The Olympic Games were first held here in 1908, when London stood
in for Host City Rome after Mount Vesuvius
erupted!
The Olympic Stadium in White City was built especially
for the Games, which for the first time
featured athletes parading under their
flags at the start.
The athletics events included a relay event for the first time – ‘the Olympic relay’. Athletes competed at distances of 200m, 200m, 400m and 800m.
The length of the marathon was set in 1908 at 42.195km (26.2 miles) – the distance from Windsor Castle to the Royal Box in the Olympic Stadium.
London 1948
London also stepped in at the last moment in 1948 to host the first Games after the end of World War II. New features included the Games being shown on home television, starting blocks for sprint races and the first Games volunteer programme.
London 2012
London’s winning bid was announced on 6 July 2005 at 12.45pm UK time, with Paris coming second. The victory followed three years of campaigning but the really hard work was only just beginning.
The Olympic and Paralympic Park
The new Olympic Park, in east London’s Lower Lea Valley, will house a number of specially built sporting venues. Each day, up to 180,000 spectators will enter the park to enjoy the Games!
After the Games the area will be transformed into the largest urban park created in Europe for more than 150 years.
The new venues include the Olympic Stadium, which seats 80,000 and will be the main arena for the Games. All Athletics events will take place in the stadium, as well as the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, watched by millions of people around the world.
The Park will also house an Aquatics Centre near the main entrance, a VeloPark, where 6,000 spectators will be able to watch cycling events, plus Fencing, Handball, Hockey and Basketball arenas.
Biggest Games yet
Some 10,500 athletes from 205 different countries will take part in London 2012, competing in an incredible 300 different events. London 2012 will be the fourteenth Paralympic Games.
Get involved!
There are loads of opportunities to get involved in London 2012. Keep checking this space to find out how you can play a part! |
