28 Basildon Extra, June 2012 Olympics News


WE arenow just weeks away from the London Olympics and Paralympic Games, when thousands of spectators will flock to the capital. This is on top of the 15,000 athletes tak-


ing part, from 200 countries, and afurther 20,000 members of the media. The years have flown by since London


was selected as the host city back in July 2005, after defeating Moscow,New York City,Madrid and Paris during four rounds of voting. The event will mean London becomes the


first city to host the modernOlympic Games three times, having stepped in at the last minute for its two previous events in 1908 and 1948. The first following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in Rome in 1906 and the second as the last minute host for the first games after World WarII. But it is not just the capital that will see all


the action as locations outside of London arealso hosting events, including Hadleigh Farm in Essex and the Lee Valley White Water CentreinHertfordshire. Hadleigh Farm, owned by The Salvation


Army,will host the mountain bike event on August 11 and 12, which will be joined by 50-60 competitors in the men’sevent, and 30-40 riders in the women’sevent, as well as 40,000 spectators. The purpose built course covers a550


acresite including woodland, grassland and hilly terrain, and the surrounding coun- tryside of Hadleigh Castle Country Park, and riders will have to endure172 metres of climbing per lap. ALegacy Proposal has been announced


by Essex County Council and The Salvation Army,which will lead to arange of improvements at the park. The proposal includes retaining and adapting the course for public use and connecting it to the country park and the wider area, and improving and enhancing the network of existing paths and trails across the park and farm for walkers, cyclists, mountain biking, runners and horse riders. The legacy,which aims to deliver arange


of social, economic and environmental benefits to the area, also includes plans for grassland habitats, heritage interpretation panels, restoration projects in the park, and


apurpose built facility to provide agateway to the recreational trails and allow the Salvation Army to provide morelife skills and employment training opportunitiesto adults with learning difficulties. The opening ceremony for the Olympic Games will be held on July 27 and will include 26 sports covering atotal of 39 dis- ciplines. While the closing ceremony on August 12 will mark the hand over of the games to the next host city,Rio, we will still be able to enjoy events covering 20 differ- ent sport during the Paralympic Games, which run from August 29 to September 9.


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