BMX Track In Pictures

From the air

New to the Olympics last time round was BMX Cycling - and given the popularity of BMX in the UK (and especially London) this should be a popular event. What's more, BMX world champion Shanaze Reade - one of the women's favourites - is British, and strongly tipped for a medal after missing out in Beijing following an unlucky crash.

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The venue

An internationally-renowned BMW track designer assisted with creating the course and has come up with a fast and challenging track, which features an eight-metre high ramp at the start, followed by jumps, bumps and tightly banked corners. The 400m track uses 14,000 cubic metres of soil - enough to fill three Olympic swimming pools.

Under construction

After London 2012, the seating will be removed and the Track reconfigured to make it available for community use. A new public VeloPark will also include a new mountain bike track and a road-cycle circuit. It will be owned, funded and run by the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, the body behind the White Water Centre in Hertfordshire which hosts the Olympic Canoe Slalom event.

From an aerial perspective

From the air

As seen in this aerial photograph, the BMX Track is located next to the Velodrome in the north of the Olympic Park. Construction was completed in around six months and finished in time for the third round of the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup, a test event for the London 2012 BMX competition.

Sporting events

Spread across three days, the BMX Track will host all BMX events during the Olympics, including the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals.

Olympic BMX

8th-10th August

Nearby

Westfield Stratford Centre

The BMX Track is located within the Olympic Park, Stratford. Even though the park isn't located within central London, there are numerous shops, restaurants and entertainment venues nearby:

Westfield Stratford City Shopping Centre

10 minute walk
This 1.9 million square foot shopping mall has been billed as the 'gateway' to London's Olympic Park. With 300 high street shops, 50 or so restaurants, a 14-screen cinema, a bowling alley and the UK's largest casino, it's an impressive entertainment venue that's located just minutes away from the Olympic Park.

Restaurants

Forman's Fish Island

7 minute walk
Best of British menu devised by Lloyd Hardwick

Bistrotheque

Bethnal Green - 2 tube stops from Stratford, via the Central line
Minimalist warehouse chic restaurant with a great brunch menu

King Eddie's

20 minute walk
An east-end style gastropub with a traditional and affordable menu

Nightlife/Pubs

The Britannia

24 minute walk
Large pub garden, jukebox and laidback atmosphere

Pub on the Park

London Fields station - 1 stop from Stratford, via National Rail
Large garden and extensive beer menu, with traditional bitters and run-of-the-mill lagers

Shopping

Roman Road Market

Mile End Tube - 1 stop from Stratford, via London Overground
Situated on the oldest known trade route in Britain, this market offers crafts, antiques, food, clothing and more

Entertainment

Hackney PictureHouse

Hackney Central - 1 stop from Stratford, via London Overground
Seven-screen cinema with three bars - including Hackney Attic which hosts music and comedy evenings

Theatre Royal Stratford East

18 minute walk
450-seat theatre that showcases new writing and ethnically diverse plays

Leisure

The Greenway

7 minute walk
A flat, almost continuous and straight traffic-free walking and cycling route that carves through East London at a high level

All Star Lanes

10 minute walk
Bowling alley located within Westfield Stratford Centre

Victoria Park

Mile End Tube - 1 stop from Stratford, via the Central Line
The city's first public park boasts picturesque lakes and an Old English Garden

Travel

There are numerous options when travelling to the BMX Track. Driving is not advised due to high levels of traffic and restricted parking - limited, pre-booked parking will be available for disabled spectators. Public transport options include:

Javelin Train

Delivering passengers from St Pancras to Stratford International in just seven minutes, the Olympic Javelin high-speed train shuttle service will take up to an estimated 25,000 travellers per hour.

Overground Stations

National Rail, Docklands Light Railway and London Overground will run trains to the following stations:

London Underground

Stratford - Jubilee and Central Lines
West Ham - District, Hammersmith & City, and Jubilee Lines

Walking and Cycling

Greenway walking and cycling routes will connect the Olympic Park with numerous locations - including Victoria Path, Lee Valley North and Epping Forest. The walking routes are step free and there will be free cycle parking provided at the Eton Manor Transport Hub, Greenway Transport Hub and Victoria Park.