The three organisations are Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL), Parkwood Leisure and Serco Group, while the chosen operator from this shortlist will be appointed in early 2012.

GLL is an employee led Charitable Social Enterprise which oversees the management of over 100 public leisure centres in partnership with 14 London Boroughs, including public leisure facilities in the five Olympic and Paralympic Host Boroughs as well as Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, home of international sporting events including the Aviva Grand Prix.

Parkwood Leisure specialises in the development and operation of leisure facilities on behalf of local authority and non-local authority clients while Serco is an international service company, improving the quality and efficiency of essential services for national and local Governments in areas including health, transport, leisure, science, defence and education.

The selected bidder will take over some of the most high-profile of the venues being built for the Olympics. 

The Aquatics Centre, which was completed this week, will have 2,500 seats after the Games, which can be extended to 3,500 for bigger events and will become a centre for community and competitive swimming, as well as other aquatic disciplines.

Meanwhile the 7,500 seat Multi-Use Arena - known as the Handball Arena during Games-time - will be a centre for community sport and will host a range of sporting, community, entertainment, cultural and business events.

Both venues will close down after London 2012 and are set to reopen in 2014.

"We are delighted by the calibre of shortlisted candidates to operate two of London's best sporting facilities," Peter Tudor, Director of Venues at the OPLC.

"By appointing the operator before the Games, we can work together to develop a full programme of activities for when the venues reopen, focused on encouraging sports participation, community access and a range of cultural events."

Working with the OPLC, the chosen operator's role will include developing pathways for sporting clubs across London, promoting local employment opportunities and championing accessibility.


The Zaha Hadid-designed Aquatics Centre will have two 50-metre pools and a diving pool, expected to attract up to 800,000 visits a year after the Games, while the pools are fitted with moveable floors and booms so their size and depth can be altered.

Meanwhile the Multi-Use Arena will be the third largest arena in London complete with retractable seating to extend the field of play while it could attract up to 600,000 visits a year, officials claim.

It is anticipated that the contract for operating the two venues will run for ten years.

The operators will be expected to promote sports development with the National Governing Bodies of Sport, educational establishments and local boroughs; contribute to improving health, education and lifelong participation in sport; support the establishment of sports clubs and academies; provide venues that are physically accessible for disabled people, and cater for all ages and abilities.

Plans for the Aquatics Centre and the Multi-Use Arena form part of the Legacy Company's ambition for the future Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to become a new part of London, which will include new housing, schools, health centres and offices, along with the running of venues such as the Olympic Stadium, the ArcelorMittal Orbit, Lee Valley VeloPark, Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre and the Press and Broadcast Centre.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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