The Olympic Games in London 2012 will mean a huge boost for tourism and will put London centre stage where it will be the main global attraction during this prestigious event. Apart from the newly constructed Olympic Stadium and village, many other parts of London, including some main tourist attractions and historical features have been surprisingly been utilised for Olympic events.
Horse Guards Parade in London near Whitehall is used for royal parades and ceremonies. Every morning the ceremony of Changing of the Guard takes place at Horse Guards Parade. The annual Trooping of The Colour is British ceremony at its best and a huge tourist attraction where troops are presented to The Queen. Centrally located, the parade ground is open on the west side, where it faces Horse Guards Road and Saint James Park. To the north side is the Old Admiralty and Citadel, to the east the former headquarters of the British Army and on the south the Foreign Office and rear garden wall of 10 Downing Street. During the Olympic Games, this bastion of pomp and ceremony will transform into London’s very own beach when tons of sand will be imported to provide the courts for the Olympic sport of Beach Volleyball!
The Mall, the long ceremonial route coloured with red oxide that runs between Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace will be lined with spectators not for another Royal wedding but for the Olympic Games. This beautiful tree-lined avenue will be the start and finish point for the Marathon, Walking Race and Cycle Road Race.
The London port of Woolwich has a long military history dating from 1776. It is appropriate that the Olympic Shooting and Archery competitions will take place here. Four temporary indoor ranges for Pistol and Rifle Shooting are built together with outdoor shotgun ranges for Trap and Skeet events. Since 2011 the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery have taken up residence here in new quarters and stables which are home to 75 horses, historic gun carriages and artillery pieces used for displays..
Greenwich Park is the oldest enclosed Royal Park. Situated on a hilltop it has impressive views across the River Thames to the Docklands and the City of London, between Blackheath and the River Thames. The park is home to several historic buildings, including the Old Royal Observatory, the Royal Naval College, the National Maritime Museum, and the Queen’s House. Henry VIII who was born in Greenwich introduced the resident herd of deer to the park. In 1661, The Royal Society was founded because of Charles II’s great interest in science. Sir Christopher Wren was commissioned to build The Royal Observatory. Today Greenwich is a World Heritage Site and is most famous for Greenwich Mean Time. It will have another claim to fame as the Olympic sports of Equestrian Eventing and the equestrian elements of the Modern Pentathlon will take place in Greenwich Park.
Other tourist attractions of note in the greater London area hosting Olympic events will be Hampton Court Palace home and hunting grounds of Henry VIII will be host to the cycle road racing time trials, and Eton Dorney near Windsor and its famous Royal castle will be used for rowing and canoeing.
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