2012 chief: Greenwich Park won't be harmed

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Paul Deighton, chief executive of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games, denied the events would ruin the park at a public meeting at the IndigO2 last night.

He had faced claims by protest organisation No To Greenwich Olympic Equestrian Events that "the only legacy for Greenwich Park is a bill for repairs" and was criticised for not finding an alternative venue. But Locog has pledged that no trees, not just ancient ones, would be cut down to design the course. Planning applications are due to be lodged at the end of next year.

Mr Deighton said: "We are making provision so that the park is restored to how it was in the first place.

"It is a crucial part of our job to make sure that we get good value for money. Our attitude is to be precisely that in this extraordinarily complex project."

Concerns were also raised among the 500-strong crowd that the public transport system would not be able to cope with the increased demand.

They were told that efforts were being made to ensure that closures around the park were limited to a few weeks before the Games.

Locog chairman Lord Coe said the Games would introduce young people to riding. He said: "We have the opportunity to put this [equestrianism] centre stage. We have the opportunity of allowing young people who have probably never ever recognised that equestrian may be for them and to put it in their backyard and not a hundred thousand miles away as it was in Beijing."

Greenwich council leader Chris Roberts also promised no damage would be done. His borough will host nine sports at the Games including wheelchair basketball and artistic gymnastics.