Broxbourne White Water Canoe Centre

Lee Valley Regional Park in Hertfordshire, 30km north of the Olympic Village is where the Broxbourne White Water Canoe Centre sits, linked to the Olmpic Park by the River Lea and enjoying excellent public transport links.

Construction started this month and will be completed in time for Test Events in 2011and pre-Games training.

The Canoe/Kayak Slalom courses will be created - including a permanent 300m competition course and a 100m warm-up course - entirely artificially with a new water body constructed and the white water created through a system of pumps designed to thrill and excite.

It will be the only new Olympic venue which the public will be able to use ahead of the 2012 Games. They will be able to enjoy white water canoeing and white water rafting at the site - just 40 minutes from central London.

During the Games up to 12,000 spectators will be able to enjoy the Canoe/Kayak Slalom races. After the Games, both the competition course and the warm up course will remain, leaving behind a world-class Whitewater Canoe Centre at Broxbourne for elite athletes and beginner/intermediate level canoeists alike.

It will also be a major leisure attraction for whitewater rafting, owned managed and funded by the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority. It will feature an extensive sports development programme, a first rate white water rafting experience and will be used by the community.

Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the London 2012 Organising Committee, said: "This is an important stage in the delivery of a facility that will provide a world class venue for Games time and an excellent facility for elite athlete and community usage after the Games, living up to our promise of leaving a lasting legacy for sport. The constructors must now develop a challenging Olympic course and develop a community facility which will provide a new experience for beginners. I look forward to seeing the plans for Broxbourne take shape. www.the2012londonolympics.com