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London 2012 prepares for the Games with the world's largest rehearsal

11 May 2011

LOCOG’s detailed testing programme, which is branded the ‘London Prepares’ series, will run from May 2011 to May 2012 and will see some world class sporting events with athletes competing in London’s iconic existing venues as well as brand new venues in the Olympic Park.

LOCOG’s testing programme will focus on testing the sporting field of play; results, timing and scoring systems; how teams work together and how people move around venues. 

There are different groupings of events: events which LOCOG is organising and ticketing, events run by LOGOG that are not ticketed, and events which are not organised by LOCOG.

The four LOCOG events this summer that will be ticketed are: 

• Mountain Bike: 31 July – Hadleigh Farm, Essex

• Beach Volleyball: 9-14 August – Horse Guards Parade

• Basketball: 16-21 August – Basketball Arena, Olympic Park

• BMX: 19-20 August – BMX Track, Olympic Park

Basketball and BMX will be the first competitive sports to take place on the Olympic Park.

Prices vary from event to event but range from £5 to £35. Tickets will be available from Ticketmaster from 26 May, by using a Visa card only (debit, credit and prepaid product).

There are also free events to watch, such as the Cycling – Road Race event on 14 August (the London-Surrey Cycle Classic).

The types of things that will be tested during the programme include a new platform for the Equestrian events at Greenwich Park; new marking lanes at the Rowing lake at Eton Dorney, Buckinghamshire; delivery of 3,000 tonnes of sand for Beach Volleyball at Horse Guards Parade; and the first competitive use of the water at the Lee Valley White Water Centre, Hertfordshire, for Canoe Slalom.

Paul Deighton, LOCOG Chief Executive, said: "The London Prepares series is essentially about putting our plans into practice.  Although our venues won’t be dressed in their Games finery, a number of events will give the public a chance to see some world class sporting action ahead of next year.

"These events are our opportunity to try out our new venues, test new technology and equipment and walk our extended teams through their roles and responsibilities.  We have learned a lot from previous Games which we will put to good use as we challenge ourselves over the next 12 months."

Other events that LOCOG is ticketing are:

• Gymnastics (Artistic, Rhythmic and Trampoline): 10-18 January 2012 – North Greenwich Arena

• Cycling – Track: 17-19 February 2012 – Velodrome, Olympic Park

• Aquatics – Diving: 20-26 February 2012 – Aquatics Centre, Olympic Park

• Aquatics – Synchronised Swimming: 18-22 April 2012 – Aquatics Centre, Olympic Park

• Hockey: 2-6 May 2012 – Hockey Centre, Olympic Park

• Wheelchair Tennis: 2-6 May 2012 – Eton Manor, Olympic Park

• Water Polo: 3-6 May 2012 – Aquatics Centre, Olympic Park

• Athletics: 4-7 May 2012 – Olympic Stadium, Olympic Park

• Paralympic Athletics: 8 May 2012 – Olympic Stadium, Olympic Park

Ticketing arrangements for these events will be announced later this year.