The Countdown is On
Tuesday July 27th
2010 marks two year countdown to the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic
Games
NEW YORK, July
22, 2010 – Tuesday July 27th marks the two year countdown to
one of the world’s biggest events:
The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
With just two years to go until the Opening Ceremony, London – and
indeed all of the UK – already has their game face on as they prepares
to welcome the world.
Travellers visiting
London before
the Games will also benefit from the close proximity to other legendary
locations, which will host Olympic events. Before the Games kick off,
why not check out some of these places in person and then sit back and
relish in the fact that you have been there and done that for yourself,
when the eyes of the world turn to Britain in the summer of 2012.
VisitBritain, the national tourist board for
England,
Scotland and Wales, has
pulled together this list of top
Olympic hotspots
to visit right now.
10 Places to Visit
Now
1. Olympic Park –
View Tube
London, England
Watch the Olympic Park rise from the ground in front of your eyes. The
View Tube is a community venue located on The Greenway, right next to
the Olympic Park. It includes a café, education, arts and information
spaces with a panoramic view over the Olympic Park and
Stratford
City.
2.
Horse Guards Parade
London, England
Located directly across from
Buckingham
Palace is the Horse Guards
Parade, a parade ground that is used daily as the starting point for the
Changing of the Guard.
In 2012, this historic area will be transformed into London’s own beach, as the site of the Beach
Volleyball events. This is sure to be an unbelievable site to see!
3.
Dorney
Lake
Windsor, England
Dorney Lake, located just 30 minutes by train from London, is a world-class
rowing and canoeing center that will host the Rowing, Flatwater
Canoe/Kayak, and Paralympic Rowing events in the 2012 games. Dorney Lake
is owned by world-famous Eton College – where Princes William and Harry
both studied.
Windsor Castle,
an official residence of Her Majesty The Queen, is also nearby.
4.
Hyde Park
London, England
Hyde
Park, one of
London’s Royal
Parks, will host the Triathlon in 2012. This 350-acre park is one of
the most well known parks in London, and is home to the Diana Fountain
Memorial, in tribute to the late Princess of Wales. It’s also a
wonderful spot for a picnic on a sunny afternoon.
5.
North Greenwich
Arena,
London, England
The North Greenwich Arena
is a major music and entertainment venue and will host the ever popular,
Basketball and Gymnastics events. Also known as The O2, in
recent years, it has hosted some of the biggest concerts in Europe. In fact, Michael Jackson was slated to play his
final ‘This is it’ concert series here, before his untimely death last
year. Before the Games kick off, you won’t want to miss the
British Music Experience
– the UK’s most amazing interactive museum of
popular music.
6.
Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour
England’s South Coast
Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour will be the venues for the Olympic and
Paralympic Sailing competitions and offer some of the best natural
sailing waters in Britain. Unrivalled coastal views will be sure
to inspire, as this world-class facility sits within England’s
Jurassic Coast,
a UNESCO Natural World Heritage site – the only one on the UK mainland.
7.
Greenwich
Park
London, England
At
the east of London is Greenwich Park,
which will host the Equestrian, Modern Pentathlon and Paralympic
Equestrian events. This park is the oldest
Royal
Park in London, and has close historical ties to the
monarchy of King Henry VIII. The park is situated on a hill and offers
spectacular views of the
River Thames
and the entire Olympic Park.
8.
Regent’s Park
London, England
Visitors to London can take a stroll or
bike through Regent’s Park, which will host the Road Cycling events in
2012. Another Royal
Park, it is also home to
the
London Zoo
– the world’s oldest.
9. Trafalgar Square
London, England
In
the centre of London is Trafalgar Square – one of the most famous
squares in the UK and the world. During the Games, this
historic gathering spot will be home to one of the cities ‘live sites’
–an outdoor venue where fans without tickets can watch Olympic events on
huge screens and share in the excitement. See it in its original state
first and then watch it be transformed in 2012!
10.
Wimbledon
London, England
The home of the All England
Lawn Tennis Club and the setting for the internationally renowned
Wimbledon Championships since 1877, this venue will host the Tennis in
2012.
Located in south-west
London, visitors to
Wimbledon
can enjoy a guided tour of the historic grounds and even have a chance
of seeing John McEnroe’s ghost in The Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum’s
interactive exhibition.
Tips for
U.S. Travellers
For those planning to visit London before,
during, or after the Olympic Games, VisitBritain offers travel cards,
tickets to the city’s top attractions, and tour suggestions at
www.visitbritainshop.us.
In time for the two year countdown, VisitBritain is also offering a
brand new Olympic-themed walking tour, where you will have views of the
2012 Olympic Stadium and other venues. You’ll also learn about
London’s innovative plans for the Olympic Site,
after the Games come to an end
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