The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) will carry out a full scale test of the Olympic Park from 2-8 May as it delivers six final sporting test events as part of the London Prepares series. During the first comprehensive operational test of the Park and general spectator areas, testing will focus on security processes, ticketing operations, mobility services and Park-wide logistics, plus venue and sport-specific testing. 11,000 workforce, including Games Makers, will be in operation as LOCOG deliver six major sports events in five venues over seven days - three Olympic and three Paralympic. Over 140,000 spectators will watch 3,000 athletes take part in Hockey, Wheelchair Tennis, Water Polo, Athletics, Boccia and Paralympic Athletics. At peak times over 60 Pedestrian Screening Areas at Stratford Gate and 15 at Greenway Gate will allow access for a minimum of 4,000 spectators to enter the Park each day, peaking at approximately 75,000 on Saturday 5 May. The Olympic Stadium will host the BUCS Visa Outdoor Athletics Championships and the Visa London Disability Grand Prix, supported by UK Sport, as well over 40,000 spectators on the evening of Saturday 5 May for the 2012 hours to go event which will see the Stadium officially opened by a member of the audience. The Riverbank Arena, Eton Manor and the Water Polo Arena will host their first sporting competitions; the Visa International Invitational Hockey Tournament, Eton Manor Wheelchair Tennis International and Visa Water Polo International, where athletes will to help test the field of play, equipment, results, scoring and timing systems and workforce training. Field of play testing will also take place at the London Boccia Invitational 2012 where friends and families of the players will enjoy the competition. Seb Coe, LOCOG Chair said: We are now in the final stages of the testing programme. Testing the Olympic Park and its operations is a hugely important part of our plans. Over the last ten months, over 250,000 spectators have watched world-class sport as part of the 'London Prepares series' test event programme, and, in doing so, every one of them is helping us deliver the best possible Games this summer " Debbie Jevans, LOCOG Director of Sport, said: When this final group of events is delivered we will have carried out 42 test events in 12 months, across 28 venues, which is one of the most comprehensive testing programmes for an Olympic and Paralympic Games. The coming days are the big final test of our Olympic Park operations and sporting venues and also our workforce, who have been excellent throughout all of the events. The Olympic Park is at its busiest as preparation for the Games continue. While delivering test events, work continues on temporary installation for London 2012 concessions and buildings due to be completed in early June, while sponsors complete their own installations including showcasing areas by early July. A large amount of work by broadcasters to cable around the Park will be completed by mid July, to ensure the general public get the best quality TV coverage of the Games, and landscaping and dressing the Park with flags and banners will continue right up until Games time. Statistics: - Six events over seven days - Over 75,000 spectators on Saturday 5 May - Over 140,000 spectators across seven days including the evening entertainment on Saturday 5 May - Up to 3,000 athletes - Five venues in use - Over 11,000 workforce - 30 mobility vehicles and 21 manual wheel chairs The Olympic Park will also play host to the final day of the Sainsburys 2012 School Games for 1,600 school-aged elite athletes in four different Park venues watched by around 35,000 spectators. Outside of the Olympic Park, the London Para Archery International Tournament at The Royal Artillery Barracks will run from 3-6 May. The world-class event will enable testing of the venue ahead of the Paralympics and will also play a role in helping LOCOGs test of running multiple events simultaneously. Test Events: May 2-6 Visa International Invitational Hockey Tournament, Riverbank Arena, Olympic Park. May 3-6 London Para Archery International Tournament, The Royal Artillery Barracks. May 3-6 Eton Manor Wheelchair Tennis International, Eton Manor, Olympic Park. May 3-6 Visa Water Polo International, Water Polo Arena, Olympic Park. May 4-7 BUCS Visa Outdoor Athletics Championships, Olympic Stadium, Olympic Park. May 5-7 London Boccia Invitational 2012, Warm-up Arena, Basketball Arena, Olympic Park. May 6: 2012 Hours to Go: An Evening of Athletics and Entertainment, Olympic Stadium, Olympic Park. May 8 Visa London Disability Athletics Challenge, Olympic Stadium, Olympic Park. May 9 Sainburys School Games, Olmypic Stadium, Velodrome, Aquatics Centre, Basketball Arena www.london2012.com
Tweet Share