London 2012 organizers get planning permission for basketball, shooting, gymnastics venues

Organizers able to develop London 2012 venues

LONDON — London 2012 organizers were given permission by local governments on Thursday to develop venues for basketball, shooting and gymnastics.

The Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich and North Greenwich Arena need additions including extra seating for spectators but organizers said work on the temporary facilities would begin early next year.

“The Royal Artillery Barracks will be a fitting venue for the shooting events at the London 2012 Games and our temporary works will help us deliver the best possible facilities for athletes,” said David Higgins, chief executive of the Olympic Delivery Authority.

“Securing planning permission (from Greenwich Council) is an important step forward and keeps us on track to start installing the temporary measures on site early next year.”

Woolwich and Greenwich are neighboring districts on the south bank of the River Thames to the east of central London and a short distance from the site that includes the Olympic stadium.

The news was welcomed by London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe, who was in Vancouver for the Winter Games.

“This is very good news and a vital step forward in our preparations for the games,” he said. “These venues are an important part of the cluster of sports being staged in Greenwich.”

As well as hosting the Olympic shooting events, the 7,500-capacity Royal Artillery Barracks will stage Paralympic shooting and archery.

The temporary facilities will include four indoor ranges and three open air ranges for the Olympic qualifying rounds and finals.

The 18,000-seat North Greenwich Arena will host artistic gymnastics, trampoline gymnastics and the basketball finals, followed by wheelchair basketball.