GB World Championship medallists Asha Philip and Rabah Yousif opened the London Marathon Community track, which is now available for public use.
The athletes conducted a PE lesson for schoolchildren from the neighbouring Bobby Moore academy, just months after using the very same track as their warm up facility during the IAAF World Athletics Championships.
“I warmed up here ahead of winning my silver medal and it’s great it is now being opened up for kids and my fellow Newham & Essex Beagles to use,†said Philip.
“Having such an amazing new facility next to the Stadium that hosted the Olympics, Paralympics and World Championships is really exciting.â€
The facility at London Stadium, which will be managed and operated by the venue, will see the Newham & Essex Beagles Athletics Club make the track their home, as well as the football pitch being used by West Ham Ladies and East London club Altis FC.
Other groups to benefit from the facility include Newham Athletics Network and English Athletics and the West Ham Foundation, which are both part of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park’s Active People Active Park programme.
“It is great to see the London Marathon Community Track now open,†said Sir Robin Wales, Mayor of Newham.
“Our youngsters will share this incredible resource with gold medal winning athletes from Newham & Essex Beagles who will make this track a fitting new home.Â
“This was a key part of the legacy from the 2012 Games and something we fought for to encourage increased sports participation throughout the borough. I look forward to watching our young people make the most of this track, be inspired by the athletes who also use it and go on to achieve their own gold medal success.â€
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Facilities at the Track include:
- Full sized 11-a-side grass football pitch
- All-weather six-lane 400-metre track with an eight-lane 100-metre straight
- Athletic field areas, including long jump, triple jump, pole vault, high jump, shot put, discus and hammer
- Fully floodlit training facilities
- Elevated, fully covered 200-seater Brasher and Disley spectator stand (with 12 wheelchair viewing seats)
- Male, female and disabled changing rooms with showers and toilets and a club meeting room with fully functional kitchen
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