London will play a major part in staging the second 2012 Open Weekend from 24-26 July as both the capital's Olympic and Cultural Olympiad plans continue apace.
In 2008, 700,000 people enjoyed 655 free events at iconic venues such as the National Theatre on the South Bank and TateBritain.
This year, the theme for the weekend of accessible and inspirational events is Open Up. It will create opportunities for the public to participate in events across the capital linked to culture, sport, environment and learning.
Meanwhile, at the start of July, plans for the 'gold medal standard' Olympic Village were released by London 2012.
The Olympic Village, which is next to the Olympic Park and new Stratford City development, will accommodate the athletes during the London 2012 Games and provide thousands of new homes for Londoners after 2012.
There will be 11 residential blocks made up of between six and eight buildings. During the Games each residential block will be managed like a hotel. Athletes' apartments will have lounge areas with comfortable, soft furnishings to make them feel at home. Athletes will also have open recreational space including a jogging area.
After the Games there will be 2,818 new homes, including 1,379 'affordable homes'. There will also be new roads and bridges connecting the Village to the surrounding area and new education and healthcare facilities.
Olympic Delivery Authority Chairman John Armitt said: "Providing a world-class Village will play a crucial role in helping athletes deliver record-breaking performances in 2012, but we are also focusing on creating gold medal standard housing in legacy. By aiming for the highest standards in design, sustainability and construction we will ensure the Village is a high-quality asset for the public sector that delivers a lasting legacy for east London."
The first residential buildings are starting to rise out of the ground with building now underway on seven out of the eleven residential blocks.
