Oda Abandons London 2012 Canoeing Venue

The Olympic Delivery Authority has been forced to abandon the proposed venue for
the canoeing slalom races for London 2012 due to an environmental issue.

The ODA has been forced to look at relocating the events to a new venue six
miles away due to contamination at the original site.

Initial reports indicate that it could cost too much to clean up the
Spitalbrook site in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire.

The ODA has now identified an alternative site between Waltham Cross and
Tebaldi Grove stations.

ODA boss David Higgins said: ‘It is prudent to develop contingency plans.
Although investigations are still continuing, the initial results indicate that
the cost of cleaning up the land for this venue would be prohibitive given
budget and time restrictions.

‘Venue designs continue to be developed so that a planning application can be
submitted once the site discussions are completed. We are on track to complete
the venue for test events in 2011.’

If a final decision is taken to relocate the venue, a case will then be
presented to the International Canoeing Federation and the International Olympic
Committee.

They would then need to give their approval before the new site could be
confirmed.