The London 2012 Summer Olympic Games will be held in various venues throughout the U.K., July 27 to August 12, 2011. Hosting the Olympics has prompted redevelopment of many areas in and around the city of London, with a special emphasis on sustainability. You don’t have to wait until next year – rent a London timeshare and tour places in London now that are undergoing their Olympic transformations.
For example, the London 2012 Games are the catalyst for transforming a square mile of land in east London into the Olympic Park. What was once industrial, contaminated land is creating a green backdrop for the Games and a new green space after 2012 for people and wildlife living in and around the area to enjoy.
The southern part of the Park will focus on retaining the festival atmosphere of the Games, with riverside gardens, markets, events, cafes and bars. The northern area will use the latest green techniques to manage flood and rain water, while providing quieter public space and habitats for hundreds of existing and rare species, from kingfishers to otters.
Almost 2,000 semi-mature British-grown trees have been hand-picked for the Park’s green spaces, which will be enjoyed by spectators and become a home for wildlife. In addition, a further 2,000 trees are being planted on the Olympic Village site.
The trees have been carefully selected to ensure they are ‘future proof’ against climate change. They are mostly native species, such as ash, alder, willow, birch, hazel, cherry, poplar, London plane and lime.
More than 300,000 wetland plants will also be planted in the Park. It will be the UK’s largest ever urban river and wetland planting, creating a colorful riverside setting for the London 2012 Games.
Between the Aquatics Centre and Olympic Stadium (see photo) will be gardens stretching half a mile that celebrate the centuries of iconic British passion for plants and gardens, The gardens will trace the journey of England’s plant collectors around the world through more than 250 species of plants, trees, meadows and herbs.
An area of Olympic Park known as “Henman Hills” will be created so visitors to the Park during the Games will be able to watch live Olympic Games action on large screens.
“London 2012 has incorporated arts and culture into the heart of the Olympic Park right from the start, creating an international benchmark for future Olympic and Paralympic Games,” stated a London 2012 organizing committee official.
“We want to ensure that arts and culture remain at the core of the Olympic Park after the London 2012 Games, so that the works can be admired by all future visitors to the Park.”
Remember – you can always rent a Paris timeshare and ride the chunnel bullet train, EuroStar, to London for a day trip – you’ll be back in Paris in time for dinner!
(Photo credit – london2012.com)