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In Visiting in 2012...

    Basketball Arena

    basketball handball
    Basketball Arena
    Basketball Arena
    The Basketball Arena will host Basketball, Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Rugby and the final stages of the Handball competition during the London 2012 Games.

    Key facts

    Sport: Basketball, Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Rugby, Handball
    Capacity: 12,000 during the Olympic Games; 10,000 during the Paralympic Games
    Location: In the north of the Olympic Park
    New or existing?: New, temporary venue

    During the Games

    The Basketball Arena for the London 2012 Games will be one of the largest-ever temporary venues built for any Games. During the Games it will be located in the north of the Olympic Park near the Velodrome and BMX Circuit.
     
    During the Olympic Games there will be a period of just 22 hours to transform the venue from the Basketball competition to the Handball competition finals. This will include removing the Basketball posts and installing the Handball goals and field of play mat.
     
    Then, during the Paralympic Games, there will be just 12 hours to get ready for Wheelchair Rugby after the Wheelchair Basketball competition finishes, with similar changes needed.
     
    The venue’s ‘back of house’ area will be shared with the VeloPark venues to make most efficient use of space and resources. This will include two courts in temporary accommodation and areas for catering, security, waste management and the media
     
    Getting to the Basketball Arena during the Games.

    After the Games

    The Basketball Arena will be taken down after the Games. Parts of it are expected to be reused or relocated elsewhere in the UK.
     

    Getting ready for 2012

    2009

    • Construction starts

    2011

    • Construction due to be completed
    • Test Event (Basketball)

    2012

    • Test Event (Wheelchair Rugby)
    • London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games