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Greenwich 'must host' 2012 equestrian events
Matthew Beard, Sports News Correspondent09.10.08
The future of Greenwich Park as the Olympic equestrian venue appears to have been secured after a government commissioned study backed the plan.
Initial findings from a cost analysis of three 2012 venues by accountants KPMG are also expected to endorse Woolwich Barracks as an Olympic shooting venue which may be scaled down, the Standard has learned.
A draft of the report, circulated to ministers, the Mayor and 2012 chiefs, is also expected to say that costs could be cut by moving the temporary basketball from its intended location in the Olympic Park.
KPMG was commissioned in the summer by Olympics minister Tessa Jowell to investigate whether cost savings could be made by relocating any of the three venues, which will all be temporary.
The report will be completed in weeks and its recommendations discussed at the next Olympic Board meeting next month. Accountants from KPMG, who gave advice during the bid stage, have based their early findings on venue specifications and detailed budget figures - both provided by Games chiefs.
The accountants' likely approval of Greenwich Park may prove most controversial.
Its choice as the riding venue has met stiff opposition from local campaign groups. This comes despite assurances by organising committee Locog that it will repair any damage to the park and minimise disruption.
KPMG is likely to conclude that relocating any one of the three equestrian events - dressage, jumping and eventing - to an alternative venue would be too expensive since a satellite venue would require bespoke security, stabling and media facilities. A source said: "The review is in its first draft at the moment and has reached no conclusions. However, there are unlikely to be any great changes since there is no accounting argument for it."
The national shooting centre in Bisley, Surrey, is expected to be ruled out as an alternative to the shooting range at Woolwich Barracks.
There has been opposition to the temporary London venue by the national governing body, which has campaigned for a permanent legacy from the Games.
It is thought that dwindling participation in the sport means there is no argument for investing in permanent shooting facilities in Bisley.
Games chiefs have argued that moving the event to Bisley, which was earmarked as the shooting venue during the bid, would add to the 2012 budget, not least because they would have to create a second athletes' village nearby for up to 500 shooters.
Instead, Games chiefs will seek to cut costs at Woolwich from the current budget of £24 million.
Accountants from KPMG continue to agonise over their verdict on the basketball venue which triggered their cost-value analysis in the first place. The temporary arena is currently earmarked for the northeast of the Olympic park but Games chiefs could make substantial savings if they find a nearby alternative to the proposed £60 million venue.
But ExCel in the Royal Victoria Dock will be at full capacity as host of other Olympic events. Wembley Arena is considered too small and the O² Arena has no extra space as host of the gymnastics and basketball finals.
The Olympic Delivery Authority believes there is little remaining scope for change since they have already moved two planned temporary facilities out of the park. The volleyball will take place at Earl's Court and ExCel is due to host the fencing.
Reader views (10)
Greenwich is a to big a town to build an equestrian centre! Why can they just use a really, REALLY empty field that no-one ever uses, ever! And make sure there is enough space for parking and stables and tackrooms and stuff.
leave me alone, im only 13
- Darcy Mechen, Purfleet, Essex
Whoever said 'hold it at an equestrian centre' actually made me laugh out loud! This is about the world's best coming together to compete... I really doubt any equestrian centre you're thinking of would be good enough.
- Jennifer, London, England
I live adjacent to Maze Hill Railway station the nearest to the park. Greenwich will not be able to cope with the
influx of people that will affect all modes of transport. Our roads are in need of repair and the railway station is not fit for purpose. It has just one 100 year old bridge, no ramps,lifts for disabled olympians or spectators.
How will the medical services cope! It already has difficulty managing the present population, and this is increasing day by day with new builds.
I am very concerned about Greenwich Park, as residents we are in a better position to say whether the park is big enough and worried over the construction of the stadium which could possibly damage an historic site.
- Jan Cordery, Greenwich, London
Hurrah for KPMG!
Derrick Spurr,long standing manager of the Park, has said many times that he will have his park back as it was within weeks of the end of the Games.
LOCOG have confirmed that the Park is big enough for the cross country event and will remain open up to 2012 - apart from times when certain areas must be closed off eg when the arena is built.
It will be great to share this amazing venue with a worldwide audience during the Olympics.
- Richard Dinkeldein, Greenwich resident
Hey, you voted for this government. Be sure you vote them out when you can, and that you choose a team that will really help this country, including Greenwich residents.
- Helen, norwich
Why not use an Equestrian Centre?
Greenwich cannot cope with normal everyday traffic let alone extra traffic for the olympics.
- Jackie, surrey
Damien, I can tell that you have not undertaken any research of your own into the impact on the Park of the planned Olympic equestrian events, whereas I have. You are only repeating what the Labour-controlled Council and the local (Labour) MP say, and from the viewpoint of someone who lives among City bankers in the Millennium Village and nowhere near the Park - are any of the flats there on the market for less than half a million? - it would be impossible to hold the equestrian events in Greenwich Park without doing irreversible damage to the ecology and without destroying the very features that made it qualify for UNESCO World Heritage Site designation.
- Rachel Mawhood, London, UK
Where was the "accounting argument" then for ODA chiefs to be given £1.7 million in bonuses? Did KPMG approve those? And why should accountants have the final say on whether Greenwich is used for the equestrian events when the damage to a historical park like this one could be irreparable?
The rest of the Olympic budget is manipulated and stretched by the Government in whatever way they please.
So don't destroy Greenwich Park for sums that wouldn't provide a team bonding away-day for the ODA.
- Sally Wainman, Ipswich Suffolk
Any one with any horse sense whatsoever knows what a complete waste of money this is when Windsor Park with its excellent track record of event management and Blenheim Palace, a location accustomed to staging international 3 day events for over 10 years, could provide far, far better facilities for all concerned.
The numpties in charge of the London Olympics have made yet another bad decision and haven't got the gumption to change their minds even when the inadequacies of Grenwich have smacked them in their faces.
Personally, I'm hoping the games are such a complete disaster that no UK government will ever bid for them or anything similar again as our taxes - OUR money - could be used to far better effect elsewhere such as not selling school playing fields for starters.
- Robert Warner, Henley-on-Thames, England
The London 2012 Organising Committee has met with local groups, Greenwich Council and Nick Raynsford MP to discuss the use of Greenwich Park for the events. Assurances were given that that LOCOG will return the park as it finds it.
The news that the Equestrian events will go ahead will mean that many more people will get to attend the events than would otherwise be the case if it was held elsewhere.
It is now for LOCOG to continue consultations with local people to discuss what measures it will put in place to minimise disruption.
The news that the events will go ahead are coupled with the welcome announcement of an additional £5m from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Local groups are pleased that this award will be added to the £20m private donation by Sammy Ofer. The total £35m will build the Sammy ofer wing which will accommodate an art Library,exhibitions gallery and visitor facilities including a restaurant, cafe and shop. It will be accessed by a major new south entrance to the park.
Maritime Greenwich suffered a huge blow with the distruction of the Cutty Sark. It is expected that the Cutty Sark and the Sammy Ofer wing of the museum will be open by 2012 in time for Greenwich hosting the Olympics.
- Damien Vaugh, Greenwich Millennium Village
