London 2012 Olympic Stadium to host Diamond League meeting

The Olympic Stadium will host the 2013 London Grand Prix on the anniversary weekend of the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Games, it has been confirmed.

The London Grand Prix, traditionally held at Crystal Palace, will take place at the £429m venue from 27 July – two weeks ahead of the World Athletics Championships in Moscow.

Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis and double London 2012 gold medallist Mo Farah are among those hoping to compete in London in the summer.

“It’s fantastic that the British Athletics London Grand Prix is going to be held at the Olympic Stadium in July,” said Farah.

“The atmosphere was electric during the Games, I’ll never forget it, so it’s great that the British fans, and athletes, will get to experience that again so soon after the Games. It’ll be perfect preparation for the World Championships in August.”

Ennis added: “It will give athletes and fans who did not get to experience the amazing venue the chance to go there, and for those of us who had the most incredible experiences on the track and field, an opportunity to re-live a few memories.

“Hopefully I will be there and using the competition as part of my preparation for the World Championships.”

Thursday’s announcement comes after the Legacy Corporation announced a deal with live entertainment promoters Live Nation to relocate two music festivals to the Olympic Park this summer.

“What better way to mark the anniversary of the tremendous London 2012 Opening Ceremony than to see this Stadium packed again as the world’s top athletes compete in this unique series,” said Mayor of London Boris Johnson.

“After last summer’s amazing Games we can now see the Stadium’s legacy emerging as a top venue for both international sport and entertainment.”

The Olympic Park will begin to open to the public from 27 July, one year after the London 2012 Opening Ceremony.

It is set to open in phases – starting with the north park – and will be fully open by spring 2014.

The transformation of the Olympic site into Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park started immediately after the Games and will take 18 months.

The £292m transformation project will clear Games overlay, including the removal of temporary venues, walkways and stands, connect the Park to the surrounding areas with new roads and pathways and complete the Park’s venues to their legacy designs.

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