What was the brief when looking for the equestrian venue?

The brief specified that the equestrian venue should:

- Be close to the Olympic village and the media centre. (It was a requirement by the London Bid Company that the venue be within 30 minutes of the proposed Olympic village at Stratford, East London)
- Be accessible by public transport.
- Be visually stunning, particularly for television.
- Be cost effective.
- Unite all three Olympic disciplines.

Overall, the chosen venue needed to have the potential to stage the best equestrian Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

How did the selection process work?

The London Bid Company asked the BEF to recommend a venue;

1. A working party was formed with representatives from each of the Olympic and Paralympic sports
2. A number of venues in and around London were visited
3. A recommendation was made to the BEF Board, which included the chairman of each of the Olympic disciplines, who in turn recommended Greenwich to the London Bid Company
4. HPower International were engaged by the London Bid Company to review the technical capability and draw up detailed plans for submission to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Why have we decided to use a temporary site rather than developing permanent facilities?

The BEF has an obligation to help the London Organising Committee deliver a cost effective Games and the cost benefits of the temporary facilities outweigh the advantages of creating a new permanent facility. It is only recently that the IOC has allowed temporary sites and they now actively encourage this option.

How can I get involved and volunteer for the equestrian competitions?

The London 2012 volunteer programme has not yet been launched; further details will be announced by the London Organising Committee in due course. In the meantime anyone interested in registering their interest as a volunteer across all elements of the Games can do so via www.london2012.com

Why is it thought to be possible to have the equestrian competitions at the centre when this has never been an option in past Olympic Games?

It is rare to have equestrian sport within 30 miles of an Olympic stadium and the cross-country has never been in a city centre. The main reason why it is possible for the London Games is that the space requirement for cross-country has been dramatically reduced by the recent introduction of the short format, removing the room needed for roads, tracks and the steeplechase.

Is there sufficient space for an Olympic cross-country course?

Yes, the site is 75 hectares which will give sufficient space to design a challenging Olympic course.
 

Are there any plans of the layout of Greenwich Park?

Yes, there are plans which were drawn up during the bid process , they are therefore likely to change as more detailed work is undertaken by The London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games. They can be viewed under Associated Documents.

What are the dates for the 2012 Games?

The London 2012 Olympic Games will run from Friday 27 July to Sunday 12 August. The London 2012 Paralympic Games will run from Wednesday 29 August to Sunday 9 September.

Is there any truth in the rumour that Greenwich is being axed as a venue?

No, there has been no discussion of moving the equestrian element of the 2012 Games. The London Organising Committee made a full statement to that effect:

"The story carried by the Evening Standard about Greenwich Park 'facing the axe from the Olympics' is incorrect. Greenwich Park will be the venue for the main equestrian events. Greenwich Park is an integral part of our plans and will be a high profile Olympic and Paralympic venue in 2012.

"In the next few years, we will have discussions with all the sporting bodies about the best way to profile their sports in London in 2012. That is normal and an important part of our planning process. Any venue changes have to be approved by the British Olympic Association and International Olympic Committee, and we currently have no plans to change any of our venues."

What is the situation with training camps?

The London Organising Committee have created specifications for Equestrian Training Camps, following advice from the BEF. Potential venues are able to measure themselves against the criteria and put themselves forward for selection as preferred training camp venues. The deadline for initial submissions is January 2007 and an on-line registration process has been launched at www.london2012.com. The London Organising Committee will conduct an inspection and selection process which will result in the publication of a Training Camps guide to be circulated to all National Olympic and Paralympic Committees around the World.

Who are the various bodies involved in delivering the 2012 Games and what are their roles?

The London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) and the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) are contracted to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to deliver the Olympic Games in London.

The International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) will sign off the equestrian sport specific plans sent to them by the London Organising Committee.

The British Olympic Authority (BOA) aims to maximise the potential of team GB athletes at all future Olympic Games and develop the Olympic movement in the UK.

The BEF will co-ordinate the interests of equestrian sport, conveying relevant views to the London Organising Committee, and providing support to both the London Organising Committee and the FEI.