Greenwich Park confirmed as Olympic venue (From News Shopper)

Greenwich Park confirmed as Olympic venue

11:04am Thursday 20th November 2008 in News

OLYMPIC events will be held at Greenwich Park despite opposition, it has been announced.

The Olympic Board has endorsed a cost-saving review by financial consultants KPMG which recommended equestrian events should go ahead at the park in 2012.

Greenwich will host the dressage, cross country and show jumping events and parts of the modern pentathlon and Paralympics equestrian event.

The findings show alternative locations being considered such as Hickstead or Badminton would not be located close enough to the Olympic Park to host the modern pentathlon.

And the review also claims more accommodation would need to be built at the alternative sites, making them more expensive than Greenwich Park.

Some residents have raised concerns that the horse riding will damage the historic park.

An online petition organised by campaign group NOGOE (No to Greenwich Olympic Equestrian Events) to get the cross country event moved to another site has been signed by 2,682 people.