QUEEN ELIZABETH OLYMPIC PARK – LONDON’S NEWEST PARK
In just 18 months since the 2012 London Olympic Games were staged in Stratford, East London, the London Legacy development corporation has led the transformation of the former Olympic park into London’s newest park with parklands, waterways, world-class sporting venues, arts and events.
When the Queen Elizabeth Olympic park opened its doors to the public on April 5th, visitors were able to see the south of the park for the first time since the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games. Designed by James Corner Field operations, who created the High Line in New York, the south of the park has a new tree-lined promenade with 100 trees strung with globe lighting, interactive water fountains and an adventure playground and four themed walking trails which take people on a journey around the key sights of the London 2012 games covering arts and culture, biodiversity, 2012 and family fun.
Boris Johnson, mayor of London, said, ‘the opening of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park marks an historic chapter in London’s post-Olympic story. Our city’s newest park is crammed with spectacular attractions and activities set in acres of stunning green spaces. This is now a must-see destination for Londoners and visitors alike and forms a glittering centrepiece for our ambitious regeneration plans in Strafford and beyond’
The park has five iconic sporting venue for both community and elite use – London Aquatics Centre, the Copper box Arena, Lee valley Velo park, the Stadium and Lee valley Hockey and Tennis Centre.
Designed by internationally renowned architect, Zaha Hadid, the London Aquatics Centre is one of the most recognisable venues from the Games with its unique wave like roof. It opened its doors in March and now the venue houses two 50 metre swimming pools. The Games time competition pool will be available for lane and fitness swimming. A 50 metre training pool will be available for family sessions, fun sessions with inflatables and swimming lessons. There is also a 25 metre diving pool with boards and platforms up to 10 metres, a dry diving zone, a state-of-the-art 50-station gym and café.
The venue, which is operated by Charitable Social Enterprise, GLL, will play host to a variety of activities. Swimming sessions will cost as little as £3.50, the same as a swim in any other local pool, there will be swimming and diving lessons, and inclusive community sessions. The venue also has an innovative lift mechanism called a ‘Poolpod’ for people who require mobility assistance.
In addition to community swimming, the Aquatics Centre will host a range of national and international events including the FINA/NVC 2014 World Diving Series in April, the 2016 European Swimming Championships and is the new home of British Diving.
Now the pool attracts local schoolchildren as well as famous sportspeople like Olympic medallist diver Tom Daley, who trains here twice a day.
At 560 acres, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is the same size as Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens combined, and is expected to attract thousands of visitors with the creation of over 20,000 jobs
Over 40 per cent of the peak transformation workforce was from the neighbouring boroughs and over 60 apprentices helped transform the park, the highest number on single site in 2013.
ArcelorMittal Orbit
The 114.5 m red steel tower the ArcelorMittal Orbit in the heart of the new park is set to be one of London’s must-do attractions. It is the tallest sculpture in the UK and the only one that visitors can experience inside and out. With two viewing platforms the tower is the only observation tower that looks from the east into London rather than from the centre outwards. It gives visitors views of up to 20 miles in all directions, with landmarks such as St Pauls, Canary Wharf, The Shard, as well as Alexandra Palace and Wembley Stadium to the north and Crystal palace to the south. It is also gives a bird’s eye view of the new Queen Elizabeth Olympic park itself.
It was created by Sir Anish Kapoor and Cecil Balmond as their winning entry in a 2009 competition to design an iconic tower for the Olympic and Paralympic games. It cost £22.3 million to build, 319.2 million of which was provided by Lakshmi Mittal of Arcelor Mittal, the world’s biggest steelmaker and the reminder from the greater London Authority.
‘The ArcelorMittal Orbit was an icon of the London 2012 games and we are thrilled that both local people and tourists will once again be able to admire the views into the city and over the park.’ Says Vicky Martin, ArcelorMittal Orbit general manger
Work is also underway to transform the Stadium into a mutli-use venue. It will be the home of West ham United Football Club from 2016 and the new national competition stadium for athletics in the UK. The venue will host five matches as part of the Rugby world Cup 2015 and the 2017 IAAF World Championships and 2017 IPC World Athletics Championships
As well as sport, the Park will house a major new arts and cultural centre, working with the Victoria and Albert museum and University College London.
‘The opening of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic park is not the end of the transformation story. We are building a new heart of east London creating jobs, building new homes and bringing in investment, culture and education with partners like the Victoria and Albert museum and University College London it is truly an exciting time for all Londoners ‘ said Dennis Hone, Chief Executive of the London Legacy Development Corporation
