London 2012 blog

Our offices overlook a large expanse of grass south eastwards and it is usually a stunning view. It is the historic site of Greenwich Park where we will host our Equestrian events.

But early this morning you could barely see the river with all the rain so I wondered how the day would shape up. We discussed wet weather options and I was nervously looking out of the window as my early morning meetings began.

But going through the Blackwall Tunnel was like going through the Mont Blanc tunnel, fog-bound and wet on one side, and sun-blessed when we came out of the other end at Greenwich. What a relief!

I met HRH The Duchess of Cornwall who was visiting to site to find out more about the venue. She arrived at the site slightly early – I warm to anyone who is a stickler for time. After the initial obligatory photocall we got down to the real business of exploring the magnficient view across the Park.

I pointed across to Canary Wharf across the river, to the Dome on the Greenwich Peninsula and the ExCeL Centre (both Games venues) and towards the site of the Olympic Park.

I explained to the Duchess that ours will be a compact Games, with the Olympic Park and Athletes’ Village only 15 minutes away and the shooting venue at Woolwich just five minutes down the road.

Greenwich Park will be a stunning venue and give equestrian sport an exposure that it does not have a handhold on outside the rural community. I want all competitors to be a part of the Games and Greenwich Park will certainly make sure that riders are part of the mainstream action. It will be a fantastic venue.