Welcome to Essex
The London 2012 Games is the sporting event of our lifetime. During the Games athletes will inspire the people of Essex to embrace Olympic and Paralympic values, creating a sporting legacy that will change our county forever.
You can be part of this once in a life time experience when you visit Essex in 2012. With the Olympic Park at Stratford located on the doorstep of the county and great transport links to the heart of London, you can easily get to the greatest show on Earth.
As well as hosting two action-packed Olympic Games events, the Mountain Bike events at Hadleigh Farm and the Canoe Slalom events at the Lee Valley White Water Centre, the region offers a variety of fabulous places to visit and places to stay.
We look forward to welcoming you to our beautiful county.
Team Essex Ambassadors
Our ambassadors are elite athletes in a sport included in the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. They are promoting sports across the county to inspire the next generation of Essex Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
The Olympic Park
The Olympic Park creates a green backdrop for the Games and a new green space after 2012. With riverside gardens, cafés and bars as well as quieter spaces for wildlife this will be a great attraction for people to visit.
Cultural Olympiad
The London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, launched in 2008 and running until the close of the Olympic and Paralympic Games on 9 September 2012, is the largest cultural celebration in the history of the modern Olympic and Paralympic Movements.
Hadleigh Farm
Hadleigh Farm is just 25 miles (40km) from the Olympic Park in Stratford and was chosen as the venue for the mountain biking events due its unique terrain; providing a technically challenging course for the world class competitors.
Lee Valley White Water Centre
With two brand new, purpose built courses, including the 5.5m high 300m long Olympic Standard Competition Course, Lee Valley White Water Centre will play host to the exciting canoe slalom events. The venue is just 20 miles (30km) from the Olympic Park in Stratford.
