London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) today confirmed that the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Marathons will start and finish in The Mall in central London.
The new route has been approved by the IAAF and the Olympic Board, and agreed by the IOC. The development of the Olympic Transport Plan, and evolving sports competition schedule, has led to the route change. The new route provides a better operational solution without causing a high risk of disruption to the many other sports taking place at the same time in the Olympic Park and across London.
A Marathon route east / north east of Tower Hill, ending in the Olympic Stadium, would have required the closure of Tower Bridge and a number of important artery roads. In addition, the infrastructure and secure areas behind the Olympic Stadium mean that it would have been impossible for spectators to watch and celebrate the final mile of the Marathon.
The Olympic and Paralympic Marathons are much smaller events than the annual London Marathon, and other mass participation marathons. The races involve around 80 athletes, and the route has been developed around a ‘loop’ circuit so that spectators can see the runners several times rather than them just passing the spectators once.
The new route will start in The Mall, and take in London sights including Buckingham Palace, Admiralty Arch, Birdcage Walk, St Paul’s Cathedral, Leadenhall, Tower Hill and the Houses of Parliament before finishing in The Mall.
The original starting point of Tower Bridge was ruled out since it did not have sufficient space needed for operational facilities and broadcasting positions.
The dates of the Olympic Marathons (Men’s and Women’s) and Paralympic Marathon will be confirmed when the sports competition schedule is published – all three races will take place on days when many other medal events are taking place in the Olympic Park and elsewhere in London. Therefore the Marathon route has to be compatible with keeping London moving at a time when the city will be very busy with many other Games events.
Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG, commented: ‘This is one of the hardest decisions we have had to take – and we realise that this may be disappointing for Tower Hamlets. We have agreed with the Leader of Tower Hamlets Council to develop a proposal creating other opportunities for the borough to be part of the Games. The vast majority of the sporting action will take place in the Olympic Park in the heart of east London, and the brand new sporting facilities and new housing we leave behind after the Games will be transformational for east London.
‘Our prime objective as the Organising Committee has to be to deliver venues and events that work for the athletes, spectators, and for the host city – venues that provide the best possible way of keeping the city moving, minimising disruption for everyone and, critically, getting the athletes and spectators to the venues on time. We are confident that the new route is the best way to do this.'
For more information, please contact: www.london2012.com
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