AFTER years of argument and planning, Greenwich Park today witnessed the cross country stage of London 2012 Equestrian Eventing.
On the only day of the Olympics that the entire park was closed, 50,000 spectators watched on from busy vantage points along the course and from inside the temporary arena.
With millions watching on television, the sunny weather played its part to ensure that the venue looked stunning as cable cameras tracked high above Greenwich Park, first enclosed nearly 600 years ago.
It was a good day for Team GB, with three riders - including the Queen's granddaughter, Zara Phillips - completing the ride within the course time of 10m 3s.
The cross country stage follows two days of dressage in the temporary stadium where swathes of empty seats, in common with other venues, were witnessed on TV.
The venue was also hit by a lack of food supplies early within the sessions on Saturday and Sunday with many spectators taking to Twitter complaining they had nothing to eat and couldn't leave the venue and return.
A spokesperson for London 2012 told Greenwich.co.uk that "measures have been taken" in response to the food shortages.
When you say this as the only day the entire park was closed, what do you mean? Is this a technical point, that some small part of the park has been one the other days, or has much of the park been open all along?
Do we know if we locals will have a chance to see the cross-country course after the games are over?
Rob Powell Reply:
July 30th, 2012 at 7:54 pm
The playground and part of the flower garden have been open. Today was the only day that every part of the park was closed.
Oh, I see.
The Observatory say they are open again from the weekend – do you know how one gets access?
To answer the question, the cross country course is being dismantled as I type.
That’s a great shame. Do we know why those of us who couldn’t get tickets aren’t even allowed to see it after the event?
SophieM Reply:
July 30th, 2012 at 10:35 pm
I guess because they’ve promised to return the park to us ASAP, and that means beginning to dismantle the course straight away. I was there today and felt so proud of our park, and was so impressed with the efforts that have been made to limit damage to it. It was an amazing day.
I find it hard to feel at all involved,with what’s been happening there.
The cross country course could at least have been left intact until the end of the Equestrian events next week, locals have been denied the opportunity to see these fantastic fences, another week in restoring the park, witheverything else that has taken place, would have made no difference.
I agree, Liz. I’m disappointed that we don’t get even this chance to be involved.