LOCOG kicks off full test of Olympic Park

LONDON - The London Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) started its full-scale test of the Olympic Park last week as it delivers six final sporting test events as part of the London Prepares series.

A fan draped in a union flag makes her way past the Olympic Stadium inside the Olympic Park in London, May 6, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

During the first comprehensive operational test of the Park and general spectator areas, testing will focus on security processes, ticketing operations, mobility services and Park-wide logistics, plus venue and sport-specific testing.

The 11,000 workforce, including Games Makers, will be in operation as LOCOG deliver six major sports events in five venues over seven days - three Olympic and three Paralympic.

Over 140,000 spectators will watch 3,000 athletes take part in hockey, wheelchair tennis, water polo, athletics, boccia and Paralympic athletics.

At peak times over 60 Pedestrian Screening Areas at Stratford Gate and 15 at Greenway Gate will allow access for a minimum of 4,000 spectators to enter the Park each day, peaking at approximately 75,000 on May 5.

The Olympic Stadium will host the BUCS Outdoor Athletics Championships and the London Disability Grand Prix, supported by UK Sport, as well over 40,000 spectators on the evening of May 5 for the '2012 hours to go' event which will see the Stadium officially opened by a member of the audience.

The Riverbank Arena, Eton Manor and the Water Polo Arena will host their first sporting competitions; the International Invitational Hockey Tournament, Eton Manor Wheelchair Tennis International anda Water Polo International, where athletes will help test the field of play, equipment, results, scoring and timing systems and workforce training.

Visitors near the Olympic Stadium in the Olympic Park in London, May 6, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

Seb Coe, LOCOG Chair said: "We are now in the final stages of the testing program. Testing the Olympic Park and its operations is a hugely important part of our plans.

"Over the last 10 months, over 250,000 spectators have watched world-class sport as part of the 'London Prepares series' test event program, and, in doing so, every one of them is helping us deliver the best possible Games this summer."

The Olympic Park is at its busiest as preparation for the Games continues. While delivering test events, work continues on temporary installation for London 2012 concessions and buildings due to be completed in early June, while sponsors complete their own installations including showcasing areas by early July.

A large amount of work by broadcasters to cable around the Park will be completed by mid July, to ensure the general public get the best quality TV coverage of the Games, and landscaping and dressing the Park with flags and banners will continue right up until Games time.