Britain’s Queen Elizabeth visited the site of London 2012’s Olympic Park Wednesday where a variety of sporting facilities, which includes an 80,000-seat stadium to be built in Stratford, east London, will be located, and she said it was “exciting” and “fascinating”.
The Queen was taken to the 21st floor of the Holden Point residential tower to see the site. The stadium will host the Opening and Closing Ceremonies as well as the athletic events.
Work has already begun on the site, and escorted by London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe, the Queen inspected progress from a high-viewing platform. Inflated colour airships were used for the Royal visit, to identify the locations and construction work already underway.
Coe said, “the Queen and Royal Family were strong supporters of London’s bid and it was a delight to show Her Majesty how the Olympic Park site has continued to develop since winning the bid”.
Coe said he told the Queen that this is where they took the International Olympic Committee (IOC) members who were impressed by what they saw. “She said she could understand that and said it was fascinating”.
The Queen also met workers at the nearby construction site for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link at Stratford, which will provide a high-speed shuttle service to the Olympic Park.
London Mayor Ken Livingstone, Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell and new British Olympic Association chairman Colin Moynihan were also present.
Meanwhile, London’s successful bid campaign for the 2012 Games has received a Pride of Britain award for outstanding achievement in bringing the 2012 Games to London.
Judges said the “outstanding dedication and professionalism of the Olympic Bid Committee recognized the country’s passion for sport, and in hosting the Games have brought home the greatest prize”.
The Pride of Britain awards were created to celebrate the achievements of Britain’s national heroes.
