First London 2012 venue opens to the public

Image: Olympic winners Baillie and Stott at the centre

Lee Valley White Water Centre near Waltham Abbey, Hertfordshire has opened its door to the public, less than five weeks after British pair, Tim Baillie and Etienne Scott, won the team's first ever gold medal in the canoe slalom.

It is the first Olympic venue to open for public use and is the first of four that will be operated by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority (LVRPA).

The Authority will also be responsible for the Velopark, the Hockey Centre and the Tennis Centre located on the future Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Sport England has invested more than £11m of National Lottery funding in Lee Valley White Water Centre and Lee Valley Velopark to ensure facilities can be adapted for use by the community after the Games.

Jennie Price, Sport England chief executive, said: "Sport England's investment means that both the White Water Centre and the Velopark have been designed to ensure they offer a fabulous experience to community users as well as elite athletes."

LVRPA is also set to invest £4.5m in redeveloping the White Water Centre in order to create improved visitor amenities and new athlete facilities.

For more detail on LRVPA's plans for the other three faciliies, click here.

Image: flickr/Dave Hamster