During London 2012, the district in the south east of the English capital will play a key role in proceedings with Greenwich Park, London's oldest Royal Park dating back to 1433, set to host the Olympic and Paralympic equestrian competitions, as well as the combined running and shooting event of the Olympic modern pentathlon.

Although there has been opposition to events taking place in Greenwich, particularly from community action group No to Greenwich Olympic Equestrian Events (NOGOE) who claim that the temporary venues constructed for the Games will damage the Park, Greenwich Council have used today's historic announcement to highlight the benefits of staging London 2012 events in the borough.

The Council have revealed that Greenwich residents have benefited from training programmes, with over 450 people gaining work because of the Games, while Greenwich-based companies have supplied the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and won Olympic-related contracts worth a total value of over £17 million ($27 million/€20 million).

In addition, The Royal Museums in Greenwich will host a major new exhibition entitled Royal River: Power, Pageantry and the Thames, which will be open to the public throughout the Olympics and Paralympics.

The Cutty Sark (pictured), Greenwich's most famous landmark, is also due to reopen this year following the fire which damaged it five years ago.


The declaration of Royal Borough status for Greenwich is one of the first actions to mark the year of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and Councillor Chris Roberts, the Leader of Greenwich Council, admitted that he was delighted at the announcement and that it provides a huge boost to the area ahead of the Games.

"This is a proud day for Greenwich and its people, and reflects centuries of close associations between the Borough and the monarchy," said Roberts, who today delivered the Letters Patent – a document signed by the Queen formally confirming the Borough's Royal status – to the Town Hall in Woolwich, having collected it from the Office of the Lord Chancellor.

"It is a great honour for the Borough to receive the Royal Seal during Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee year, and today's announcement heralds the start of a truly unique year in the Borough's history.

"Greenwich has many features that lead it to be recognised across the globe – the Prime Meridian, Greenwich Mean Time, its magnificent buildings as well as open spaces and the riverfront.

"In so many elements of Greenwich's heritage, we can trace a strong Royal link – from Royal patronage of the arts, science and exploration, through the monarchy's links with the Military and the Ordnance, to the ongoing support given by members of the Royal Family to community and voluntary organisations in the borough.

"Together with our role later this year in hosting the 2012 London Games, Royal Greenwich is proud to take centre stage for this special year, which will create a legacy for local residents that will last for generations to come."

"Our 2012 royal celebrations are a great way to showcase all the current and future inward investment, tourist and job opportunities that Royal Greenwich has to offer.

"Tourism brings in £774 million ($1.2 billion/€933 million) to the local economy, welcomes over 18 million visitors, supports more than 8,000 jobs and has helped make Greenwich the only UK destination listed in Frommer's top ten global places to visit in 2012.

"Our new Royal Borough status will drive forward our record levels of regeneration and cement our role as a key international destination for businesses and visitors from across the globe."

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