Olympic competition will take place from Monday 28 July – Sunday 12 August 2012 (16 days)

Paralympic competition will take place from Thursday 30 August – Saturday 8 September 2012 (9 days)

Check the competition schedule

This page is designed to keep you informed about the London 2012 Games in your area and provide you with the information you need to plan ahead for the Games.

Installation of temporary venue infrastructure

ExCeL is an existing venue that has a long history of hosting major sporting and entertainment events. In order to stage Olympic and Paralympic competitions, some temporary structures such as tents, fences and cabins will need to be installed within the ExCeL estate. Temporary generators will also need to be installed to provide power to operational areas.

The installation of the temporary structures is scheduled to begin on 20 June when the venue is handed over for exclusive use to the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG). The operating hours for external works are still to be agreed with the venue owners. LOCOG will work to ensure that all noise and disruption to local residents and businesses is kept to a minimum.

All temporary facilities will be removed by 17 September 2012.

If you have any questions about these works you can contact the LOCOG Community Relations team on 08000 722 110.

Spectator transport

London 2012 is aiming for 100% of spectators to travel to competition venues by public transport, walk or cycle.

All spectators with a ticket for a games event in London will receive a one-day Games Travelcard for the day of that event.

Most spectators are expected to arrive at the venue via the DLR at Custom House or West Silvertown DLR stations. Additionally, the Jubilee London Underground line arrives at Canning Town and spectators can take the DLR to Custom House and West Silvertown DLR stations from here, or walk approximately 20 minutes to the venue.

Visit the Get Ahead of the Games website to receive the latest tips, travel information and travel advice for each day of the Games.

Local travel information

There will be changes to traffic and parking arrangements within the ExCeL estate and the area surrounding the venue for the Games.

Within the ExCeL estate, Seagull Lane will be closed to through traffic and Western Gateway will not be accessible to the east of the entrance of the Ibis Hotel. Access to residential off-street parking areas will be maintained. The availability of on-street parking within the ExCeL estate will be very limited.

The area surrounding the venue will be covered by an Event Day Parking Zone during the Games. Event parking signs will be erected in the affected areas, including when exiting Controlled Parking Zones in Canning Town and Beckton. The purpose of the zone will be to deter spectators from travelling to the venue by car. A London 2012 Games permit will allow local residents and businesses to continue their normal day-to-day activities.

Find out more about our traffic and transport plans 

Find out more information about how travel will be affected in your local area on the Get Ahead of the Games website

Access to ExCeL during the Games

All businesses on the ExCeL estate will still be able to operate during the Games.

Members of the public will be able to walk through the estate using the same path used by ticketed spectators travelling to ExCeL, but will not be allowed within the ‘ticketed area’ of the venue.

Given the large number of spectators expected for the Olympic and Paralympic events – up to 70,000 spectators are expected per day with around 30,000 spectators at peak times – we advise all visitors travelling to ExCeL to allow more time than usual for their journey to and from the venue.

After the Games

Following the completion of the Paralympic Games on 9 September 2012, all temporary facilities will be removed and the venue will revert to its role as one of Europe’s largest and most versatile exhibition spaces.