Sports: Canoe slalom

The Lee Valley White Water Center is located 30 kilometres north of the Olympic Park, on the edge of the 1,000-acre River Lee Country Park – part of the Lee Valley Regional Park.

The Center has two separate courses: a 300 metre Olympic-standard competition course with a 5.5m descent, and a 160m intermediate/training course with a 1.6m descent.

The design and build

Both courses were built from scratch, along with a 10,000 square metre lake. This feeds a system of pumps that provide the course with 15 cubic metres of water per second. The white water is created by these pumps and obstacles placed along the course.

Construction of the Lee Valley White Water Center started in July 2009 and was completed in December 2010. It opened in spring 2011 as the only brand new London 2012 venue that the public have been able to use ahead of the Games.

After the Games

The two courses and the facilities building will remain, with the venue once again becoming a world-class canoeing and kayaking facility for people of all levels of ability, and a major leisure attraction for white water rafting.

Following the end of the London 2012 Games, the venue will be owned, funded and managed by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority. It will also offer an extensive sports development programme, run in partnership with the British Canoe Union.

The 2015 Canoe Slalom World Championships will be held at the Lee Valley White Water Center.