Water is now flowing at the Lee Valley White Water Canoe Centre, the venue for the London 2012 Canoe Slalom events. The venue is on track to be completed later this year and will be the first brand new 2012 venue to be finished.

Construction work on the new lake and competition courses has been completed allowing water to begin flowing at the venue and testing work to start on the canoe courses. Works on the internal areas of the two-storey facility building and landscaping works are underway.

Olympic Delivery Authority Chairman John Armitt said: ‘With water flowing down the courses at the White Water Centre we are getting our first look at the facilities that the world’s best canoeists will compete on in 2012. With the venue due to be completed later this year, we are also on track to deliver an early sporting legacy for the East of England region well before the Games begin.’

Before and after 2012, the venue will be owned and managed by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority as a sporting and leisure facility for canoeing and white-water rafting, as well as a major competition and training venue for elite events.