London's Olympic Park hosted more than two million people over the course of the 2012 Games, but what's going to happen to it now the games are over? Will it still draw the crowds?
Officials say yes. Here's what they plan to do.
Getty Images
First of all, there's the Paralympic Games at the end of August. More than two million tickets have been sold, and it's sure to be an epic sporting spectacular.
Then from July 27 next year, the venue is set to reopen to the public as the new-look Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. It's being billed as a visitor destination and community park unlike any other in the U, with major international competitions to be held at the stadium.
There are also high hopes that the giant AcelorMittal Orbit, that rollercoaster looking structure that’s been in the background of telecasts, will become a major tourist attraction.
Four organisations have made bids to make the Olympic stadium their new home. These include West Ham United, Leyton Orient, Intelligent Transport Services in association with Formula One, and UCFB College of Football Business.
Getty Images
Up to 20,000 journalists used the Broadcast Centre during the Games. Now that it's all over, the space will be repurposed to offer 95,000 sq ft of office space over five floors and 575,000 sq ft of commercial space over two floors. The aim is for it to be a digital hub which could use local east London talent but also with a community focus after the Games.
A conference centre and a pedestrian square for broadcasting major sporting events, along with cafes, restaurants and bars, are among the plans.
The North Park, a nature-themed community sector and playground also including the 7,500 multi-use sport, entertainment and community arena, will be the first area to reopen in July next year.
Getty Images
The east London boroughs of Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest will all have entrances to the North Park and visitors could walk there through Eton Manor.
The rest of the North Park, including the Lee Valley VeloPark and more visitor access points, is set to open at the end of 2013.
The South Plaza, sitting between the Olympic Stadium, Aquatics Centre and the ArcelorMittal Orbit, is set to open at Easter 2014.
Structures used during the Games, such as temporary venues, bridges, walkways and roads, will be stripped out during the transformation.
The closure is also when the Park will be connected to the surrounding area with new roads, cycleways and foot paths.
