London Games 2012: Ranking This Year's Olympic Arenas

The 2012 Summer Olympics are a little over a month away, and London is putting in its final touches in preparing itself to host the world's biggest sporting event.

The arenas to be used for the Games vary greatly, from temporary venues set up in Olympic Park to legendary music venues. 

London and its Olympic committee have spared no expense in designing state-of-the-art arenas and adjusting already-built venues to be the best facilitators for Olympic sport. Here is a quick look into which arenas will provide the most exciting and breathtaking atmospheres at the 30th Summer Olympiad.

10. ExCel

The largest venue of the 2012 Olympics, this exhibition hall is actually five separate arenas and will host seven Olympic sports this summer.

Located on the River Thames, it was expanded in 2010 and is a frequent host to major business expos and summits.

While not commonly used for sports, it will provide a comfortable experience for fans and athletes alike. 

9. Riverbank Arena

Channeling Boise State’s home turf, this stadium will have the first blue field-hockey field in Olympic history. The area on the ground surrounding the blue field will be pink, giving it an '80s neon sort of feel.

While the ball in field hockey is yellow, the change in field color might still cause some issues for some teams.

The stadium itself is temporary, and the field will be moved north following the Olympics to Eton Manor. 

8. Copper Box

While not possessing the most creative name for an arena, it will host handball and the modern pentathlon this summer.

With a capacity of between 6,000 and 7,000, it was built specifically for the Olympics and will be the only indoor arena in Olympic Park to not be torn down after the London Games have concluded.

It is a relatively unspectacular-looking facility, but is versatile thanks to its retractable seating that allows for different court sizes based on the sport.

7. Water Polo Arena

Recognizable by its sloping and inflatable plastic roof, the arena will seat 5,000 and will be a temporary venue in Olympic Park.

Interestingly, spectators will only be seated on one side of the pool, while the referees' table will be the only structure on the other side of the arena. It is also the first venue built for the Olympics that will be solely for water polo.

6. Earls Court

Normally an exhibition center, Earls Court has installed courts and temporary seating in order to host volleyball this summer. Almost 70 years old, the Olympics will likely be the final event that the center will host before demolition.

Earls Court also hosted events in the 1948 Olympics and will have a capacity of around 15,000. Yet it has a cavernous feel and might not provide the most engaging and exciting atmosphere in its events.

5. Wembley Arena

A venue more known for hosting rock concerts, Wembley Arena seats 12,500 and is almost 80 years old.

Do not let its age fool you, though. Along with nearby Wembley Stadium, Wembley Arena recently underwent refurbishment and should be the ideal venue to host badminton and rhythmic gymnastics during the Games.  

4. Basketball Arena

The Basketball Arena, which will host basketball and the medal rounds for handball, is blanketed by a PVC fabric so that it can serve as the canvas for lighting displays, making it appear like a super-sized warehouse during the day.

Though a temporary facility, the inside of the arena seats 20,000 and has a pretty cool interior design with seats colored orange and black in order to simulate the color scheme of a basketball. 

3. North Greenwich Arena

Commonly referred to as O2 Arena, this dome has become the busiest concert venue in the world.

As for sports, some of the seats can be difficult to see from, and getting around the arena can be dangerous sometimes, as some areas have no safety rails and steep stairs.

Still, it is the second largest arena in London with a 20,000-seat capacity and, being just five years old, spares no expense for top quality food and facilities. It will be sure to have an electric atmosphere for the basketball finals it will be hosting, as well as gymnastics.

2. London Aquatics Centre

The pride of Olympic Park, the centre was built for the Olympics and will be one of the largest arenas with a capacity of 17,500.

Designed by architect Zaha Hadid, the beauty of the arena is in its wave-shaped roof. Sadly, this roof will not be seen post-games, as the two new seating wings on each side will be removed, thus reducing the capacity to about 3,000.

The inside is majestic, in which the ceiling has a wavy central panel to add an aquatic feel, while the diving boards are curved concrete structures in order to fit in with the rest of the design.

The facility's final cost came in at around $439 million, about three times the estimated cost, but will serve as an elegant host for the world’s best swimming and diving athletes.

1. London Velopark

Appearing almost like a Viking ship from the side, the Velodrome is the coolest venue that will be used in London.

The roof collects rain in order to reduce water usage, while the venue’s design is structured to use natural light for lighting and is 100 percent naturally ventilated. It even won an award for its sustainability and design.  

The track itself is also designed to create record-breaking times with its angles and shape, which will be sure to add excitement to the architecturally innovative arena.