Olympic Stadium In Pictures

 
 
 
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London 2012 Olympic Stadium

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London 2012 Olympic Stadium
London 2012 Olympic Stadium
Under construction
Aerial view of the stadium
Aerial view of the stadium
Preparation for the opening ceremony
Preparation for the opening ceremony
Preparation for the opening ceremony
King Eddie's
Bistrotheque
Westfield Stratford
Victoria Park
Olympic Stadium
 

© Getty Images

The centre-point of the Games - London 2012's beating heart, if you will - is the imperious 80,000-capacity Olympic Stadium, billed as the most sustainable major sports arena ever built, which will host all athletic events as well as the opening and closing ceremonies.

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The venue

 
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London 2012 Olympic Stadium

London 2012 Olympic Stadium

During the Games, there will be 25,000 permanent seats in the lower tier, and a temporary lightweight steel and concrete upper tier will boast a further 55,000 seats. A temporary seating structure such as this has never been attempted before. Spectators reach the 'island' site from five bridges that cross the stadium's surrounding waterways, which at night time will reflect the 14 triangular stanchions of floodlights that shine down upon the interior.

 
 
 

Under construction

 
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Under construction

Under construction

Made from a quarter of the steel that built its equivalent for Beijing 2008, the £537m Olympic Stadium also features low-carbon concrete made from industrial waste, while the top ring was built using surplus gas pipes. In short, although perhaps not as visually appealing as the "Bird's Nest" in Beijing, the whole vast structure is testament to London 2012's sustainability and environmental aspirations.

 
 
 

From an aerial perspective

 
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Preparation for the opening ceremony

Preparation for the opening ceremony

Specialising in aerial photography since 1991, Jason Hawkes has produced over 40 aerial photographic books for the likes of the BBC, Random House and Harper Collins. Taking to the sky in a helicopter, he snapped these impressive photos of the Olympic Stadium, showcasing its unique structure and preparations for the Opening Ceremony on July 27th.

 
 
 

Sporting events

 

The Olympic Stadium will stage the London 2012 opening and closing ceremonies. The opening ceremony will see artistic director, Danny Boyle, transform the stadium into a British countryside - complete with meadows, fields, rivers and a number of farmyard animals. As well as the ceremonies, the stadium will also host the iconic Olympic Athletic and Paralympic Athletic events.

Olympic Athletics

3rd August - 11th August

  • 100m
  • 200m
  • 400m
  • 800m
  • 1,500m
  • 5,000m
  • 10,000m
  • 3,000m steeplechase
  • 110m hurdles
  • 400m hurdles
  • High jump
  • Pole vault
  • Long jump
  • Triple jump
  • Shot put
  • Discus throw
  • Hammer throw
  • Javelin throw
  • Decathlon
  • Heptathlon
  • 4x100m relay
  • 4x400m relay
Paralympic Athletics

31st August - 8th September

  • 100m
  • 200m
  • 400m
  • 800m
  • 1,500m
  • 5,000m
  • High jump
  • Long jump
  • Triple jump
  • Shot put
  • Discus throw
  • Javelin throw
  • Club throw
  • 4x100m relay
  • 4x400m relay

 
 
 

Nearby Food and Drink

 
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Bistrotheque

Bistrotheque

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

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

 
 
 
 

Nearby Attractions

 
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Westfield Stratford

Westfield Stratford

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.

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 Olympic Stadium. 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.

 
 
 

Time lapse video

 

Watch the three-year building of the Olympic Stadium in just one minute.

 
 
 
 

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