London 2012: Canoeing venue tested by athletes

Tuesday, July 03, 2012
Aerial View of Lee Valley White Water Centre
[PHOTO: London 2012/LOCOG] 
London: With just 25 days until the start of the Olympic Games, today 83 Canoe Slalom athletes took to the water at the Lee Valley White Water Centre as part of their final preparations for the Games.

Thirty national teams trained at the impressive venue, taking advantage of the last chance opportunity to train before the beginning of their Olympic quest which starts on 29 July.

Athletes tackled the 300 metre Olympic-standard competition course with a 5.5m descent - located on the edge of the 1,000-acre River Lee Country Park – while their team staff looked on.

“We are ready to deliver the Games, the venue is in great shape and the athletes now have another chance to train at the facility.  Athletes have always been at the heart of our planning and we have done everything we can to ensure that they have perfect stage upon which to compete,” said Debbie Jevans, London 2012 Director of Sport.

The centre has two separate courses: a 300 metre Olympic-standard competition course with a 5.5m descent, and a 160m intermediate/training course with a 1.6m descent.

Both courses were built from scratch, along with a 10,000 square metre lake. This feeds a system of pumps that provide the course with 13 cubic metres of water per second. The white water is created by these pumps and obstacles placed along the course.

Construction of the Lee Valley White Water Centre started in July 2009 and was completed in December 2010. It opened in spring 2011 as the only brand new London 2012 venue that the public have been able to use ahead of the Games.

After the Games the two courses and the facilities building will remain, with the venue once again becoming a world-class canoeing and kayaking facility for people of all levels of ability, and a major leisure attraction for white water rafting.

Following the end of the London 2012 Games, the venue will be owned, funded and managed by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority. It will also offer an extensive sports development programme, run in partnership with the British Canoe Union.

The 2015 Canoe Slalom World Championships will be held at the Lee Valley White Water Centre.
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