Her Majesty The Queen visited the Olympic Park yesterday to see the progress being made to create the venues and infrastructure needed for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and has helped plant the first of over 4,000 trees that will create the parklands.

After viewing the Olympic Stadium from a platform at the level of the highest spectators' seat, Her Majesty then walked along a section of the 100 metre track and across what will become the finish line. Watched by a group of construction workers from across the Olympic Park site, Her Majesty then planted the first tree on the Olympic Park next to the waterways adjacent to the Stadium.


ODA Chairman John Armitt said: "It is an honour to welcome Her Majesty The Queen to the Olympic Park site today and show her the progress that is being made across the site. We now have around 7,000 people working to create the venues that are already landmarks on the east London skyline and thousands of British companies working on one of the largest regeneration projects in Europe.

"Her Majesty was able to view the Olympic Stadium's completed external structure and the work that has started on the roof lift of this flagship venue. Planting the tree today is the first step in the creation of a new green space that will reflect the traditions of great British parks and will create a fantastic backdrop for the Games and the heart of the new community in the area post-2012."

(CD/BMcC)