Free open-air festivals for those without tickets to enjoy Games

The 14 days of free "London Live" events will be book-ended by two paid-for 80,000-capacity concerts in Hyde Park on the nights of the opening and closing ceremonies.

Organiser Live Nation hopes to line up superstars for the concerts but will not sign up acts until shortly before tickets go on sale next year.

During the free events, up to 50,000 fans will be able to watch the live BBC broadcast on the UK's largest television screen (144 square metres) on the main stage which is one of seven screens in the party zone.

Hyde Park will be in the thick of the Olympic action next summer as it hosts the Olympic torch on July 26, the night before the opening ceremony.

Eleven Olympic and Paralympic events, including triathlon and open-water swimming in the Serpentine will be held in the park.
"Africa House", a party venue for 50-plus African nations, will be situated near the Albert Memorial. Victoria Park will host 30,000 people at East London's live site within view of the Olympic stadium. It will be a more "sports café" approach, with two giant screens. There will also be an emphasis on sports participation with have-a-go sessions.

Trafalgar Square will become the main festival site during the Paralympics from August 29 to September 9 but will not be used during the Olympics because of fears of congestion in the area which will host numerous sports event, including the beach volleyball at Horse Guards Parade.

Olympic "live sites" were pioneered by Live Nation at the Vancouver Winter Olympics last year and proved popular in galvanising local support and offering the big occasion atmosphere to the ticketless.

Boris Johnson said: "With the eyes of the world on London for the 2012 Games, we are creating a jam-packed programme of exciting events that will show the city at its very best and ensure as many people as possible across the capital feel a part of the celebrations.

"With its unbeatable locations London Live will be a thrilling highlight in a summer of highlights, allowing even more people to watch awe inspiring sporting heroes in high definition action and offering other fantastic attractions for Londoners and visitors alike."

Separately, Madonna will play a one-off show in Hyde Park on July 11 and Bruce Springsteen will headline Hard Rock Calling at the same location three days later.