Greenwich Test Events 2011
7 May 2011
London Prepares
More information has been released about the programme of test events for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games including news about this summer's equestrian event in Greenwich Park.
The programme will include events in the Olympic Park itself and is called London Prepares which roughly translates as coo-er, gosh it's nearly 2012 doesn't time fly all hands to the pump lads and lets have a practice.
The first event in the Park is Greenwich Park Eventing International featuring about 40 horses and riders competing in Dressage, Cross Country and Jumping on 4-6 July in a temporary stadium built on the area you can see in the picture.
This is followed by parts of the Modern Pentathlon UIPM World Cup Final, which involves 72 athletes competing in Riding and the Combined Run/Shoot. This will involve the contestants using new Laser Shooting technology which sounds brilliantly Trekkie and is bound to be excellent entertainment.
Parts of the park will be closed while the temporary stadium is built, used and taken down and most of the east side, but not the flower garden or the children's playground, will also be closed between 21 June and 10 July to make way for the cross country course. Set-up work begins on 16 May and removal of the temporary structures starts directly after the event on 11 July and should be complete by around August 10.
Understandably, the London 2012 Organising Committee are keen to try and avoid any embarrassing boo-boos next year so they see the test events as an opportunity to try out the new venues, technology and equipment and give staff the chance of a trial run without quite so much riding on it.
The competitions in Greenwich Park are still a big deal though - the pentathlon events are part of that sport's 2011 World Cup and the Equestrian events involve proper international horsey people.
Unfortunately for visitors, tickets will only be available to invited guests, including a sizable proportion of local residents. And yes, I know I said 'riding on it'. I thought it was funny.
You can find out more about the events in Greenwich Park, and all the other test events, at the London Prepares website.
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