Pupils from Turnford School and Sports College in Cheshunt, The John Warner School in Hoddesdon, St Marys Church of Englan High School in Waltham Cross, and King Harold Business and Enterprise Academy in Epping Forest have been invited after the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority teamed up with London 2012 to offer an exclusive chance to watch the closed test event, which is not open to the public, happening right on their doorstep.

London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe said: "The Canoe Slalom test event is vital for testing different aspects of the competition ahead of next year's Games, including the course, timing technology, scoring and workforce.

"This is the first time the course has been used for an international competition, so it really will be put through its Olympic paces.

"Any learning from the event will be built upon to ensure we run the best event possible next summer.

"Even though the test event is not open to the wider public, we are pleased to be able to offer local schools a chance to see international teams tackling the course."


The Lee Valley course, which was the first brand new London 2012 venue to be completed when it was unveiled by the Princess Royal last December, earlier this year won the bid to host 2015 International Canoe Federation (ICF) Canoe Slalom World Championships.

The event will be the first major sporting event to be stage at an Olympic venue after the 2012 Games, while the venue has already been opened to elite athletes, as well as the general public, for rafting and canoeing.

Shaun Dawson, the chief executive of Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, said: "We believe Lee Valley White Water Centre is the best in the world and since we launched in April 2011 we have already welcomed in excess of 40,000 visitors.

"As well as the test event being important to trial crucial operational aspects, it will also give young people from the local area a fantastic opportunity to see over 200 world class athletes from 30 nations compete on the course a year ahead of the Games - an exciting snapshot of what is to come next year."

The Lee Valley White Water Centre was built at a cost of £31 million ($50 million) and Jonathan Nagle, a teacher at Turnford School and Sports College which is part of the London 2012 Get Set network, admitted it will be a joy to see the test event take place.

"We are delighted some of our pupils have been given the chance to go along and watch the Olympic Canoe Slalom test event," he said.

"Many of the children are sport mad, and I am sure will be inspired by what they see.

"We may even have some future Olympic champions on our hands."

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