Time to get off the fence

[Dab]

I thought it looked *amazing* but I still can't help feel really sad there will be no physical legacy at the end of it. I'd loved to have one day been able to visit an Equestrian venue which had been the venue of our Olympic triumph, and maybe even ride at it.

^^^i'm sad to say this. £60m spent and no legacy, we could have built a venue which would have allowed us to host WEG and the like. The 'good will' surrounding the golden success wont last but a venue where top international events and WEG could have been held would have put the sport firmly on the map in this country.

 

[millimoo]

I was there yesterday, and it was just awesome....
We travelled down from Yorkshire the day before, and wandered into Greenwich in the evening.
It was absolutely buzzing, with a faint aroma of Eau de Cheval Poo in the air as you got close to the stables. We saw Carl dining outside Davy's and Laura and her father in the bar at Novotel, and saw Carl & Charlotte freely moving on foot in Greenwich in the morning yesterday.
I have been to London many times, but never into Greenwich, but it was just beautiful and we plan to go again.
Ive also travelled the tube for years, but the DLR was a site seeing revelation through Canary Wharfe and beyond.
Getting into the Event was amazing, from the games makers singing/rapping to mind the step, and to empty your bottles was hilarious, to the Forces carrying out security checks. The space at Greenwich meant you didn't feel like you were packed like sardines.
I had to pinch myself once sitting in my seat, with the backdrop of The Cutty Sark, Canary Wharf, the Gerkin, & Shard.
I think it was an inspired choice... And one I will remember for the rest of my life.
As for the surface - it's for sale at £100 per ton. H&H have run an article in the magazine this week.
They say everyone will have to be quick.
What a bargain is all I'll say - can you imagine owning the surface, you could create your own championship arena at home, and ride over the same ground as so many superstars

 

[Booboos]

I'm on the fence on this. The venue did look absolutely stunning, especially the aerial views, however the XC looked crammed and a more sensible venue would have allowed far more people to attend on XC day. Funnily enough riding saw a huge growth in popularity in Greece after the Olympics because so many families discovered the sport on XC day (it seemed, and was, a lovely day out for a walk with the family to see the horses and loads of people attended). On the other hand, the Athens Olympic facilities are rotting away nicely, so the legacy is horrific!

 

[Alec Swan]

Maybe the legacy is that more and varied people have learned about equestrian sports and been up close to a horse with the competitions being at Greenwich than if it had been somewhere like Badminton...

.........

This, exactly, and were it not for the fact that the equestrian aspect of OUR world has been made more accessible to the public, with a hoped for level of enlightenment )), then I would still argue for an established venue, with public funds being spent to improve the facilities. It didn't happen, and yes, I agree entirely, Greenwich worked, on several levels.

Alec.

 

[criso]

Maybe the legacy is that more and varied people have learned about equestrian sports and been up close to a horse with the competitions being at Greenwich than if it had been somewhere like Badminton...
.

I think that not as many people would have made the trip out of town except the hardcore fans and the location made it truly accessible for everyone with various bus, train and tubes options which all worked well on the day.

Hosting it at an established centre like Badminton or Windsor would have just underlined for the olympic committee that it is difficult to host equestrian events particularly eventing unless you already have facilties in place. This showed you can set it up from scratch in the middle of big city.