The Games

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Dates and Statistics

Olympic Games 27 July - 12 August 2012

Paralympic Games 29 August - 9 September 2012

  • 800,000 spectators will visit the 2012 Games per day.
  • 4 billion global TV audience.
  • 1 in 4 Brits plan to attend the Olympics, 35% from London and East of England.
  • Football kicks off the 2012 Games. The very first event is the women's preliminary football rounds at the Millennium Stadium Cardiff on 25 July.
  • Athletics takes place in the Olympic Stadium from 3-12 August.
  • The most popular spectator events are the athletics, gymnastics and swimming.
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Cultural Olympiad

Norfolk will be staging events around the county as part of the National Cultural Olympiad. See www.norfolkcelebratingtalent.co.uk for more details.

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Olympic Torch Relay

The Olympic Torch will arrive in the UK on 18 May 2012 and will travel across the UK, including Norfolk, on a 70-day journey. It will be carried by 8,000 Torchbearers, generating excitement as it makes its way to London and the Opening Ceremony of the Games. Entertainment, shows and concerts will mark its arrival at each stop. See www.norfolkcelebratingtalent.co.uk for more details.

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The Games - Locations

The main Olympic Park will stage the following events in its various arenas:

  • Aquatics Centre - Diving, swimming, synchronized swimming, modern pentathlon, paralympic swimming.
  • Basketball Arena - Basketball, handball, wheelchair basketball & wheelchair rugby.
  • BMX circuit - BMX Cycling.
  • Eton Manor - Wheelchair tennis.
  • Handball Arena - Handball, goalball, modern pentathlon.
  • Hockey Centre - Hockey, paralympic 5-a-side & 7-a-side football.
  • Olympic Stadium - athletics & paralympic athletics.
  • Velodrome - track cycling & paralympic track cycling.
  • Water polo arena - water polo.

Other Venues

  • Earls Court (West London) - Volleyball.
  • Eton Dorney (Nr Windsor Castle) - rowing, canoe sprinting, paralympic rowing.
  • Excel centre (East London) - Boxing, Fencing, Judo, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Weightlifting, Wrestling, Boccia. Paralympic table tennis, judo, powerlifting, volleyball and fencing.
  • Greenwich Park (East London) - Olympic & paralympic equestrian competitions, combined running & shooting for modern pentathlon.
  • Hampton Court Palace (Surrey) - Hosting the start and finish of the men's and women's time trials in road cycling.
  • Horse Guards Parade (Whitehall, Central London) - Beach volleyball.
  • Hyde Park (Central London) - Triathlon & Marathon swimming.
  • Lords Cricket Ground (St John's Wood, NW London) - Archery.
  • North Greenwich Arena (East London) - Artistic gymnastics, trampolining, basketball, wheelchair basketball.
  • The Mall (Central London) - Marathon, racewalk and cycling road races will start and finish in the Mall. Paralympic athletics. Free viewing along route.
  • Royal Artillery Barracks (Woolwich, SE London) - Shooting, paralympic shooting & archery.
  • Wembly Arena - Rhythmic gymnastics, badminton.
  • Wembly Stadium (London), Hampden Park (Glasgow, Scotland), Old Trafford (Manchester), Cardiff Millennium Stadium (Cardiff, Wales), City of Coventry Stadium (Coventry) St James Park (Newcastle) - Football.
  • Wimbledon - tennis.
  • Lee Valley (Hertfordshire) - White Water rafting.
  • Hadleigh Farm (Essex) - Mountain Bike Events.
  • Weymouth & Portland - Sailing and paralympic sailing.
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Frequently Asked Questions

  • On the days when I am not travelling to watch the 2012 Games, will there be much to do in Norfolk?

Norfolk is the closest major holiday destination to London. It takes under 2 hours to get from Norwich to the very heart of the Games by direct train and yet it is so far removed from the congestion and crowds. There is a huge choice of visitor attractions and places offering great value for money to go for a great day out in Norfolk.

  • Where can I find information on events and attractions during my stay?

The county-wide website www.visitnorfolk.co.uk has lists of current events, activities, attractions and accommodation. There are links to Tourist Information Centres and distinctive areas such as The Broads, the coast and the countryside.

Useful links are:

  • If I am taking the train from Norwich or King's Lynn to London 2012 will I be able to park my car at the station?

Long-term parking at the stations is limited, so please allow enough time to find a space.

  • If I am going to watch a Games event in London and it starts early or finishes late, will I be able to get there on time and back easily?

Yes, the trains start departing from the main stations early in the morning and some additional trains will be added to get passengers home from late finishing events.

Travel websites include:

  • Will my ticket for the 2012 games include London train travel?

Yes, ticket holders will receive a Games travelcard to use on public transport within London on the day of their event. This will include London Underground (tube), London Overground (rail), Docklands Light Railway (DLR), bus, tram and some national rail services, but not Heathrow, Stansted or Gatwick Express trains or taxis.

  • Is it possible to take a coach from Norfolk to London?

You can catch a National Express coach from Norwich to London Victoria where there may be direct services to the Olympic Park. However, it is a longer and less direct journey than the train, taking approximately 3½ hours. For more information visit www.nationalexpress.com or www.firstgroupgamestravel.com/direct-coaching

  • Can I drive to London and then take the tube?

The games are a 'car free' event. Parking near any tube station during London 2012 will be virtually impossible. Temporary Park & Ride sites are being constructed at intervals around the M25. Taking the train is by far the easiest, greenest and most stress-free way to arrive in London for the Games.

For information about Park & Ride services from Lakeside (Essex) see www.firstgroupgamestravel.com/direct-coaching

  • Will Norfolk have any of the official 'big screen' sites showing the events of London 2012?

Yes, Chapelfield in Norwich will be showing the Olympic events on its big screen, welcoming hundreds of people to share the excitement. It's highly likely that lots of other venues will host their own communal screenings too.

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Useful Websites