This Summer Olympics 2012, you can watch some of world's best athletes ride the rapids and put their nerves to test as they gang up to take on the best white water venue in the world. Lee Valley White Water Centre, erstwhile known as Broxbourne White Water Canoe Centre, is ready to host as what is being deemed as the most exciting event in London Olympic and Paralympic Games 2012 - Canoe Slalom. One of the newly constructed and first completed Olympic venues, this £31 million project will host all the white water canoe events. Being the only Olympic venue available for public use before the games, Lee Valley will be open to the crowd for white water rafting, canoeing and kayaking before the Games. The brand new Lee Valley Centre is one of prime four London 2012 Olympic venues that is owned and managed by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority.
Fast Facts
Sports Events Canoe Slalom
Location It is located 30 kilometres north of Olympic park, on the corner of 1,000-acre River Lee Country Park.
New Or Existing New
Permanent Or Temporary Permanent
Number Of Events 4 Events
Lee Valley White Water Centre London Olympics 2012
The 26-mile long, 1000-acre Lee Valley Regional Park extends from Hertfordshire through Essex to the River Thames near East India Dock Basin. The centre can accommodate up to 12, 000 spectators who can watch events based on two courses built exclusively for the Games. In the park, a 10, 000 square meter lake has been constructed to feed a pump that provides 300 m course with white water. Designed by Faulkner Browns Architects and the landscape designed by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, it is built on an overflow car park at the River Lee County Park between Waltham Cross and Theobalds Grove stations.
During The Games
The new, permanent canoe course at Lee Valley White Water Centre constructed 18 miles north of the Olympic Park in Hertfordshire is all set to host the Canoe Slalom event. Two new canoe slalom courses have been constructed for the Games. A 300m competition course and a 160m intermediate/training course have been set up to host various white water sports this Olympics. This venue can accommodate up to a whopping 12,000 spectators. A 10, 000 square meter lake has been installed to feed the pump systems that would provide 300 m course with 15 cubic metres of water per second. The London 2012 Canoe Slalom events will take place from Sunday 29 July to Wednesday 1 August. It's estimated that 60,000 spectators from across the globe will turn up to watch the grand Canoe Slalom.
After The Games
After the Games, the two courses and the facilities building will remain intact, although the temporary seating will be taken down. It will go back to its usual business of hosting canoeing, kayaking and white water rafting for the local visitors and elite athletes. Owned, funded and managed by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, the place will host several sports development programmes along with the British Canoe Union.
Transportation Facilities
The venue is easily accessible from Liverpool in central part of London to Chestnut station through National Rail. A multitude of shuttle services are available from Chestnut station to the venue. In addition to that, park and ride services will also function in this venue during the Olympic Games. The venue will also provide parking spaces in all parking sites with shuffles and has wheel chair parking facilities for the disabled too.
Some Interesting Facts on Canoe Slalom
The Lee Valley White Water Centre is all set to host the Grand Canoe Slalom competition in 2012 Summer Olympics. Read on to learn more about this rapid white water.
Lee Valley White Water Centre
- Slalom canoeing was first played in the Munich Games in 1972.
- During the four days of competition, there will be four different competitions – Men’s K1 (single kayak), C1 (single canoe) and C2 (double canoe) and women's K1.
- Great Britain won a silver medal in the canoe slalom in the 2008 Beijing Games and a silver and bronze medal in Athens in 2004.
The 2012 summers will witness Lee Valley White Water Centre host the Canoe Slalom event as part of the world's leading sporting event - the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games. The whole world will witness four days of competition with 82 competing athletes chasing four gold medals in 300 m long course. Get ready to be part of the sporting mood.