Intro:

A look at the Lee Valley White Water Centre, which will stage canoeing slalom events during the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Script:

One of the Olympic venues outside of London, the Lee Valley White Water Centre will stage the canoe slalom events during the Games.

Situated on the edge of the 1,000-acre River Lee Country Park, 30 kilometres north of the London Olympic Park, the centre has two courses.

As well as the 300-metre Olympic-standard competition course, which includes a 5.5-metre descent, there is also a 160-metre intermediate course.

Both courses were built from scratch, along with a 10,000-square-metre lake, which feeds a system of pumps that provide the course with its white water.

Construction of the venue started in July 2009 and was completed in December 2010, before officially opening in Spring 2011.

Of all of the purpose built London Games venues, the Lee Valley White Water Centre is the only one that has been opened to the public ahead of the Olympics.