The legacy left by the London 2012 Olympics will include a number of
prime event venues at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Clive Little, director of events and programming at the
Olympic Park Legacy Company, said there would be event spaces on offer at all
of the key sporting venues, including the Aquatic Centre, The Stadium,
Multi-Use Arena and VeloPark, as well as in the towering ArcelorMittal Orbit
sculpture and within the park itself.
Speaking at ‘Beyond 2012’, held at BFI IMAX by Unique Venues
of London in conjunction with London & Partners and ISES, he said: “We are
building a 20,000 sqm event lawn in South Park which will have a real USP of
being sat next to the Orbit and Olympic Stadium. We are also looking at putting
a temporary venue on the park for exhibitions and conferences.”
He added that the 3,500 seat Aquatic Centre could be turned
into a dry venue thanks to rising floors within the pools and that the
controversial Anish Kapoor sculpture, the Orbit, could host events for up to
300 people.
“The Orbit is two-thirds built and due to be finished in
March,” he said. “The viewing platform can be used for events and people are
encouraged to take the lift to the top and walk down. There will be (food) warming
facilities at the top but the South Park Hub can provide support for catering.”
The Olympic Park Legacy Company is now looking to engage
with event organisers to canvas their opinions on the venues.
“In October this year we’ll go out and talk to the market and ask them
what they might want to do at the park so people are engaged in the legacy
plans. While we’re still in the strategic planning we can flex and adapt our
offering to suit the enquiries coming in.”
Little added that an announcement about the future of the
Press and Broadcast Centres would be made within the next fortnight.
Pictured: An artist’s impression of the ArcelorMittal Orbit
and the Olympic Stadium
