Olympic Stadium a Success as Host for Rugby World Cup -- On the Scene

(ATR) Organizers of the 2015 Rugby World Cup have told ATR they are "extremely pleased" with the former Olympic Stadium despite a number of problems in testing.

A test event match in August between the Barbarians and Samoa was interrupted when the on-field sprinklers activated mid-play. There were also reports of heavy rain causing leaks throughout the venue, and plenty of queuing for toilets and after the match.

However, spokesperson for England 2015 told ATR that the sprinkler problem was just an anomaly that was quickly resolved – and that since they have had nothing but great feedback from the venue which was the showpiece of the London 2012 Olympics.

"We are extremely pleased with the matches held at the Olympic Stadium," a spokesperson told ATR. "It is a fantastic venue which has hosted two great matches with strong attendance levels."

"We have received great feedback from fans and players who have experienced Rugby World Cup 2015, the stadium [and] Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, and look forward to hosting the remaining three matches there including the Bronze Final."

They added: "With regards to the test event at the Stadium, this was part of our wider readiness and testing programme to ensure all our venues were ready for use RWC 2015.

"There were no leaks at the test event. The stadium was mid-transformation and unfortunately a minor technical fault with the timer system led to the sprinklers coming on. It was resolved quickly and was fully investigated."

The stadium is currently undergoing an expensive revamp ahead of new tenants West Ham United football club moving in from next year.

The venue is an important symbol of London’s post-Games legacy, especially as it will play host to the 2017 IAAF World Championships.

Retaining the track, though, has meant a costly redevelopment for a venue that was originally planned to be temporary.

Still, the players currently taking part in the Rugby World Cup are over-awed by the setting.

Yannick Nyanga of France said: "It is good for us to discover the stadium. We imagine ourselves in the place of the athletes. Usain Bolt does great things every time he steps out. We think of Mo Farah, who won on home turf. We know the quality of the English and the organization of this type of event."

"I think it's a great experience to come here. We have never played here. We like the change. We know the story with the Olympic Games in 2012. A huge part of the team have been waiting for this game."

The Olympic Park itself continues to be redeveloped meaning a meandering journey for spectators on their way in and out of the stadium.

Large queues formed for public transport after the matches so far - including New Zealand’s 58-14 win over Namibia which saw more than 50,000 spectators attend - although they have not been to the scale of delays seen at other World Cup venues such as Twickenham.

This is helped by the large number of public transport options available, as a result of the 2012 Games.

England 2015’s spokesperson added: "We advise fans to plan all of their transport in advance and to arrive early to avoid congestion and soak up the atmosphere.

"All of our stadium team are pre-briefed, and we do have our 6,000 volunteers who make up ‘The Pack’ on the ground to help advise fans on how to enjoy their matchday and those seeking direction."

Written by Christian Radnedgein London

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