The Venues for London 2012 Olympics

Almost all the venues for the events to be staged at London 2012 have been announced. Events ranging from BMXing to Sailing, from the 100 Metre Sprint, to the Skeet Shotgun. There will be a total of 26 sports and 38 disciplines running from July 27 to August 12. Although not all venues are completed yet, they're all on track to be built within schedule.

The Olympic Stadium

Events: Track & Field, Opening Ceremony, Closing Ceremony, End of Marathon

Capacity: 80,000 (during games only) / 25,000 (after games)

Location: Olympic Zone, Stratford, London

The Olympic stadium will be the centre of attention for most of the Olympics. It will welcome the world at the opening ceremony before hosting the track and field events. Many of the greatest athletes of this generation such as Usain Bolt, Tyson Gay, Carmelita Jeter, and Yelena Isinbayeva are expected to compete within this stadium. This venue will also host the closing ceremony to end the games and hand the Olympic flag over to Rio De Janeiro.

The Aquatics Centre

Events: Diving, Swimming, Synchronised Swimming, Water Polo, Modern Pentathlon

Capacity: 17,500 (during games only) / 2,500 (after games)

Location: Olympic Zone, Stratford, London

The Aquatics centre is set to host most of the water events during the London Olympics. It will be downsized after the games to a capacity of 2,500 but will still be a very important site for many water athletes. People expected to compete there include Michael Phelps, Tom Daley (Pictured), and Rebecca Adlington.

London Velopark

Events: Track Cycling, BMXing

Capacity: 6,000 indoor & 6,000 outdoor

Location: Olympic Zone, Stratford, London

The London Velopark will be the site of the cycling and BMxing events. It will also have a road race course and mountain biking course built around it, however these will not be the courses used in the Olympics. Athletes such as Chris Hoy, Bradley Wiggins, and Victoria Pendleton are expected to compete here.

The Olympic Hockey Centre

Events: Hockey

Capacity: 15,000 & 5,000 (during games only) / 5,000 (after games)

Location: Olympic Zone, Stratford, London

The Olympic Hockey Centre will contain two arenas, both used for the Olympic hockey competition. One arena will have a 15,000 capacity and the other a 5,000 capacity. After the Olympics this will be moved to Eton Manor and scaled down to a 5,000 capacity with a training pitch.

Basketball Arena

Events: Basketball, Handball

Capacity: 12,000

Location: Olympic Zone, Stratford, London

The Basketball arena will host the Olympic basketball and handball competitions. This arena will also serve as a "holding area" for the athletes during the Opening and Closing ceremony's of the Olympics. This is only set to be a temporary arena, but it's hoped that it will be rebuilt elsewhere after the Olympics.

Handball Arena

Events: Handball, Modern Pentathlon

Capacity: 6,000-7,000

Location: Olympic Zone, Stratford, London

The Handball Arena will host the Olympic handball tournament up to the quarterfinal stage. The Semifinals and Finals are set to be held at the neighbouring Basketball Arena. This Handball Arena will also play host to part of the Modern Pentathlon. After the Olympics, this arena is set to become a multi-sport arena for smaller events and training.

Olympic Marathon Course

Events: Marathon

Capacity: Unknown (Crowd will line the streets)

Location: Central London

The Olympic Marathon Course will start at Tower Bridge (pictured) and end in Olympic Stadium in Stratford. During the course the marathon will pass such landmarks as Parliament Square, Buckingham Palace, and Trafalgar Square. Athletes such as Paula Radcliffe and Samuel Wanjiru are expected to compete in the marathons.

ExCeL London

Events: Boxing, Fencing, Judo, Taekwondo, Table Tennis, Weightlifting, Wrestling

Capacity: 6,000-10,000

Location: London Docklands

The ExCeL will be split into four arenas during the Olympics. These will have capacity's from 6,000 to 10,000. It is planned to host many arena events that cannot be hosted in the arenas at the Olympic Zone. As this is a permanent venue there will be no change to it's size after the Olympics.

North Greenwich Arena

Events: Artistic Gymnastics, Basketball

Capacity: 16,500 - 20,000

Location: Greenwich Peninsula

This arena is more commonly known as the O2 Arena, however due to IOC sponsorship regulations it will be known as the North Greenwich Arena during the games. It is set to host the Basketball Finals taking over from the Basketball Arena in the Olympic Zone. It will also host Artistic Gymnastics, as it has already hosted the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in 2009. It will have different capacity's for Basketball and Artistic Gymnastics.

Greenwich Park

Events: Equestrian events, Modern Pentathlon

Capacity: 23,000

Location: Greenwich, London

Greenwich Park will play host to the Equestrian events at the London Olympics as well as the show jumping and cross country disciplines of the Modern Pentathlon. The capacity is unclear at the moment and will probably vary between events. The park has hosted sports events before such as the 2006 Tour of Britain final stage.

Royal Artillery Barracks

Events: Shooting

Capacity: 7,500

Location: Woolwich, London

The Royal Artillery Barracks will host a temporary venue that will hold the Olympic shooting events. After the Olympics have finished, the temporary venue will be moved elsewhere.

Wembley Arena

Events: Rhythmic Gymnastics, Badminton

Capacity: 6,000

Location: Wembley, London

The Rhythmic Gymnastics competitions and Badminton will be hosted by Wembley Arena during the Games. The arena will host the badminton World Championships in 2011 as a practice for the Olympics the following year. As it is a permanent venue, it will not be downsized or moved after the Olympics.

All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club

Events: Tennis

Capacity: 30,000

Location: Wimbledon, London

Better known as simply "Wimbledon," the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club plays host to one of the four tennis grand slams every year. It needs very little work done before the Olympics to host the tennis as it's a permanent venue. Athletes such as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Andy Murray are expected to compete here.

Lord's Cricket Ground

Events: Archery

Capacity: 6,500

Location: St. John's Wood, London

The Olympic Archery will be held at Lord's Cricket Ground for which the capacity will be 6,500. This is just a small portion of the 28,000 it normally holds. As it is a permanent venue it will not be downsized or moved after the games, and very little work will need to be done on the venue before to prepare it.

Regents Park

Events: Road Cycling

Capacity: 3,000

Location: Central London

Regents Park was set to host the Olympic Baseball and Softball before they were dropped from the schedule. The park will still play host to the Road Cycling, however, where there will be a temporary structure to hold a capacity of 3,000 people. Although the temporary structure will be removed after the game, not much other work will have to be done to the area.

Horse Guards Parade

Events: Beach Volleyball

Capacity: 15,000

Location: Whitehall, London

The Horse Guards Parade will have a temporary arena built with a capacity of 15,000, and will have sand brought in to host the beach volleyball. The temporary arena will be taken down after the games and it is not known if they will end up being reassembled elsewhere or not.

Hyde Park

Events: Triathlon, 10K Open Water Swim

Capacity: 3,000

Location: London's West End

Hyde Park is set to host both the triathlon and the open water swim at the Olympics in 2012. There will be a temporary venue built that will be able to hold 3,000 people, which will then be removed after the games. Athletes such as David Davies and Maarten van der Weijden are expected to be competing here in 2012.

Earls Court Exhibition Centre

Events: Volleyball

Capacity: 15,000

Location: West London

The host of the Olympic volleyball competition will be Earls Court Exhibition Centre which is best known for hosting the Brit Awards. It's a permanent venue that will need very little work done to host volleyball and can easily return to its previous use after the games. It will be able to hold 15,000 people for the Olympic competition.

Lee Valley White Water Centre

Events: Canoe Slalom

Capacity: (up to) 12,000

Location: Lee Valley Regional Park, Hertfordshire

The Lee Valley White Water Centre is set to be a new, permanent venue built in time to host the canoe slalom at the Olympics. The venue will be one of the few Olympic centres open to the public before and after the games. Although this is a new venue, seating up to 12,000, it will remain after the games unlike many of the other temporary venues being built.

Eton Dorney

Events: Rowing, Canoe Sprint

Capacity: (up to) 30,000

Location: Dorney, Buckinghamshire

Eton Dorney is an existing venue that will only need minor enhancements to be ready to host the Olympic rowing and sprint canoeing. Having already hosted the 2005 Rowing World Cup and the 2006 World Rowing Championships, it has plenty of experience in big events. The venue will remain after the games as both a training and competition facility.

Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour

Events: Sailing

Capacity: No seats at venue, open to public

Location: Dorset

The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy will be the setting for the Olympic sailing competition in 2012. The event will be open to the public as there are no seats at the venue. After the games this will remain as a first class facility for sailing training and competitions.

Hadleigh Farm

Events: Mountain biking

Capacity: 3,000 + extra standing around course

Location: Essex

The course for the Olympic mountain biking will be set around the 700-year-old Hadleigh Castle. It's not known yet exactly what will become of the course after the games, although the temporary structure seating 3,000 people will be removed. Julien Absalon and Sabine Spitz are just two of the athletes that are expected to compete here.

Wembley Stadium

Events: Football

Capacity: 90,000

Location: Wembley, London

Wembley Stadium is already world renowned as a football stadium and is the most expensive one ever built. Although there has been much criticism about the pitch, this is hoped to have been sorted out in time for the 2012 games. As it is a permanent venue it will remain after the games.

Hampden Park

Events: Football

Capacity: 52,000

Location: Glasgow, Scotland

Although very far away from London, this is one of the leading football stadiums in Great Britain, and hosts the Scotland national football team. As with the other football stadium involved with the Olympics, Hampden Park is a permanent venue that will remain after the games have finished.

Millennium Stadium

Events: Football

Capacity: 74,500

Location: Cardiff, Wales

The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff is one of six stadia hosting football in the 2012 Olympics. It's no stranger to hosting big events, having replaced Wembley during its rebuilding, hosting the FA Cup Final, League Cup Final, and all the League Play Off Finals. Again, it is quite a distance from London, however it is one of the leading stadia in Great Britain, and will remain after the games.

Old Trafford

Events: Football

Capacity: 76,000

Location: Manchester

Old Trafford replaced Wembley during its rebuilding, as the home of the England National Team. The Stadium also plays host to Manchester United and is no stranger to big events. Like all other football stadia in the 2012 Olympics it will remain after the games as a permanent venue.

St. James' Park

Events: Football

Capacity: 52,500

Location: Newcastle

St. James' Park will play host to some of the games in the Olympic football tournament. It usually plays host to Newcastle United and has in the past also hosted the England National Team. It will remain after the games and return to its previous use as Newcastle United's home ground.

City of Coventry Stadium

Events: Football

Capacity: 32,500

Location: Coventry

The City of Coventry Stadium is more commonly known as the Ricoh Arena, however, due to IOC sponsorship regulations it will be known as the City of Coventry Stadium during the games. It regularly plays host to Coventry City and as a permanent venue will remain after the Olympics have finished.

Olympic Village

Events: N/A

Capacity: Residential Apartments for about 17,500 athletes

Location: Olympic Zone, Stratford, London

The Olympic Village, although not a venue for sporting events, will supply living areas for around 17,500 athletes. It will also contain shops and restaurants as well as medical, media, and leisure facilities. After the games it is expected to be turned into 2,800 new homes with good parks and strong transport links.

International Broadcast Centre / Main Press Centre

Events: N/A

Capacity: 20,000 broadcasters, photographers and journalists

Location: Olympic Zone, Stratford, London

The International Broadcast Centre / Main Press Centre (IBC/MPC) will be the main hub for all the international media at the games. It will be set in the north west corner of the Olympic Zone (pictured). After the games it's expected to supply around 80,000 square metres of business space.

ArcelorMittal Orbit

Events: N/A

Capacity: N/A

Location: Olympic Zone, Stratford, London

The Olympic Monument was designed by Turner Prize-Winning artist Anish Kapoor and has come under much criticism for its appearance. It will stand at 115 metres tall and will be named after Steel company ArcelorMittal due to the majority of funding coming from the company's owner. It's said to incorporate the five Olympic Rings in it's design and is meant to provide the sensation of "instability" while actually being very safe. There has been much debate as to whether this is a good structure to have built or whether it is simply "ugly." Regardless of the controversy, it's set to be recognisable worldwide, and will provide panoramic views of London.