The White Water Canoe Centre in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire will host the canoe slalom events during the Olympic Games. After the Games, the venue will be owned, funded and operated by the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority as a sporting and leisure facility for canoeing and white-water rafting, as well as a major competition and training venue for elite events.
The ODA started construction work started on the Broxbourne venue in July and around 50 people are now working on site. The progress in construction work over the last six months includes:
- More than 500 concrete piles driven up to 16 metres into the ground to form the foundations of the venue facilities building and Olympic course start pool.
- Foundation works completed on schedule.
- Over 150,000 cubic metres of material put in place to form the canoe course embankments and the landscaped features of the venue – enough to fill the Royal Albert Hall.
- 10,000 cubic metres of soil excavated to create the venue’s finish lake – enough to fill three Olympic-sized swimming pools.
- Work is now underway on base of the venue facility building and early next year concrete works will begin on the canoe courses.
The recent heavy rain has presented challenging conditions on the construction site but building work remains on track. The venue is due for completion ahead of 2012, delivering an early legacy of community use and training facilities for people of all abilities before the Games begin.
ODA Chief Executive David Higgins said: 'Broxbourne will be a world-class venue before, during and long-after the 2012 Games and these new aerial images give an exciting glimpse of our plans starting to take shape. We have made good progress on site over the last 6 months and the early completion of foundation works is an important milestone, giving us good momentum as we head into 2010 when construction work will reach its peak. The good progress we are making keeps us firmly on track to deliver an early legacy of new sporting facilities for the East of England region well before the world’s best athletes arrive in 2012.'
Shaun Dawson, Chief Executive of Lee Valley Regional Park Authority said: 'We are thrilled with the strong progress at the site. While construction work has been going on, we have been busy recruiting a manager capable of launching this world class venue and setting it up as a leading white water attraction. When it opens to the public in Spring 2011 we will offer a programme of rafting and canoeing, which will enable beginners, sports clubs, schools and elite athletes to use the Centre. The 160m long intermediate course and commercial white water rafting on the 300m Olympic course will ensure it is an inclusive facility for all ages and abilities, in addition to provide a training ground for the next generation of elite paddlers'.
Charles Johnston, Sport England's Property Director, said: 'We're pleased that Broxbourne remains on course and are excited to see the latest images of the site. Our investment of National Lottery funding has helped lay the foundations of a world-class facility, which will provide paddlers, from beginner to elite level, with the sporting opportunities they need to participate both before the Games and long after the last medal is won.'
Lord Edward Iveagh, East of England Development Agency board member and lead on Olympics said: 'It is excellent to see the progress being made on the Broxbourne site. When finished the sporting facilities will provide an economic boost for local people and businesses, and for the region through tourism, for years to come.'
The White Water Canoe Centre is being built in Broxbourne on part of the River Lee Country Park, close to Waltham Cross station and will be owned, funded and managed by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, who own the site. The venue is being built on a 10 hectare site, covering an area the equivalent of 25 full-size football pitches, and will include:
An Olympic standard 300m competition course
- The water speed through the course will be in excess of 7mph in places
- A boat conveyor to transport participants to the course start in their rafts or canoes
A 160m intermediate/training course
- The intermediate course will help create an inclusive and comprehensive sports programme in legacy from novice paddler through to elite competitors
Finish Lake
- Finish lake area of 10,000m2 (1 hectare / 2.5 acres)
A facility building and pumping house
- Containing a reception, café, changing rooms, admin offices, spectator viewing facilities, storage, and water pump/filtration plan
Landscaping works
- With path and bridge networks throughout the venue to facilitate spectator viewing and access
The construction of the White Water Canoe Centre is due to be completed for Games training and testing in 2010-11 with some public use in 2011. During the Games, temporary seating will be installed around the venue for spectators. After the Games, the spectator seating will be removed, and the venue will be developed into the Broxbourne White Water Canoe Centre, creating a major leisure attraction for canoeing and white water rafting as well as a venue for future international competition and sports development opportunities.
Anyone keen to find out more information on the development of the venue and how it will be used before, after, or during the Games can visit a dedicated Information Point, located a 20 minute walk away from the site, at YHA Lee Valley in Cheshunt, part of the Lee Valley Regional Park.
Notes to Editors:
1. The latest aerial images of the construction of the Broxbourne White Water Canoe Centre can be downloaded from
http://mm.gettyimages.com/mm/nicePath/locog?nav=pr1316153922. The construction of the Broxbourne White Water Canoe Centre is being carried out by Morrison Construction
3. The construction of the Broxbourne White Water Canoe Centre includes funding from Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) and Sport England.
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For further information please contact the Olympic Delivery Authority Press Office on +44 (0)20 3 2012 700.
The construction of the venues and infrastructure of the London 2012 Games is funded by the National Lottery through the Olympic Lottery Distributor, The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Mayor of London and the London Development Agency.
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