London 2012: Olympic Park run official route
The five mile journey will start at the side of Londonâ€™s newest landmark, the spiralling red ArcelorMittal Orbit, allowing runners to be amongst the first to get up close to Anish Kapoorâ€™s spectacular 115 metre tower. Following a warm up session the 5,000 competitors will set off in waves, alongside a number of former Olympic and Paralympic athletes who will also be making history by being amongst the first to cross the London 2012 Olympic finish line.
The runners will then tackle a five mile course that will give them access to the Olympic Park on a scale not yet experienced by members of the public. The early stages take the public through the Parkâ€™s common areas for the first time, following the recently landscaped City Mill River and the River Lea before reaching the Basketball arena, one of the largest-ever temporary venues built for any Games.
Leaving the arena on the right hand side, the runners will immediately encounter the BMX circuit and Velodrome. The Velodrome is the most sustainable venue in the Olympic Park and its striking design has already won architectural awards. It can house up to 6,000 spectators and will, just a few months later, see the likes of Sir Chris Hoy, Victoria Pendleton and Sarah Storey looking to add to Great Britainâ€™s Olympic and Paralympic gold medal collection.
Passing by the main media complex, the next venues to be encountered by the runners will be the Hockey Stadia and the Copper Box - the venue for Handball, Goalball and the Fencing Discipline of the Modern pentathlon. Next up for runners will be the Waterpolo Arena followed by prize winning architect Zahar Hadidâ€™s Aquatics Centre with its distinctive design and curved roof.
The final leg takes runners through the official athlete entrance into the magnificent Olympic Stadium itself. Runners will enter onto the back straight, where they will be cheered on by their family and friends, each runner having received two exclusive spectator passes to attend.
The route has been chosen to ensure that those participating get to see the transformation that the Olympic Park has undergone and to get up close to all of the stunning venues which The National Lottery has supported.
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