UK: OLYMPICS: Programme of Olympic test events ends with celebration for 40,000 spectators in the main stadium

Record ID: 330702

  • Title: UK: OLYMPICS: Programme of Olympic test events ends with celebration for 40,000 spectators in the main stadium
  • Date: 6th May 2012
  • Summary: ATHLETES AND SUPPORT STAFF WALKING
  • Embargoed: 21st May 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAAED7E6CNB72RYYPSOHBMLT7W5
  • Story Text: The main stadium for the London 2012 Olympics is officially opened on Saturday (May 5) with a test event attracting 40,000 spectators to the Olympic park.
    Early on a wet, cold day, spectators turned up to watch a universities athletics tournament in the stadium, and hockey matches near the Aquatics centre, before the main event which takes place during the evening.
    Those spectators asked about their journey to the park, to the east of central London, said they had no problems with transport and were planning to stay late to watch the evening show.
    Marking 2012 hours until the start of the Games, the evening programme of invitational races will fulfill a licensing requirement by UK authorities, allowing the stadium to be used for sports events. It also meets a requirement by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in the run-up to the games.
    During this week hockey, water-polo, boccia, wheelchair tennis and athletics have taken place at the Olympic park. Paralympics and paralympic archery test events will take place next week.
    Besides a test of the Olympic park, London's transport system will also come under strain. Spectators will be using public transport, underground and overground trains, to reach the Olympic park. At the same time around 80,000 spectators will be travelling to the FA Cup final between Chelsea and Liverpool which takes place at another Olympic venue, Wembley Stadium, during the afternoon.
    Sebastian Coe, chairman of London's organising committee LOCOG, said it was an important day for Olympic preparation.
    "We're looking at sort of four or five key areas," he said. "Clearly the venue, tonight we will have 40,000 people in there and that gives us the chance to license the stadium and make sure of course thoughout the course of the day, as in all our venues, that the athletes are getting exactly what they want. They are the most important group of people we have to deliver for. Clearly with 140,000 people through the park in the last few days crowd flows, the way we cope with them, what we call the last mile - the journey from the station to the stadium as well - that is something we look at most carefully. Clearly our security and ticketing and also some of the other issues, you know people with mobility issues and how we are coping with them."
    Student athletes, like Lucienne Ndong and Martha Achimugu who are running in the relay race for Newcastle University, have a rare opportunity to run in front of an audience in an Olympic stadium.
    "I am really glad because I come from France and I have this big opportunity with Newcastle University to be here so it is just amazing. I can't imagine to be here today in the Olympic stadium so it is just wonderful," said Ndong.
    Her friend Martha Achimugu added: "Can't wait to get on that track!"
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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