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    London Spy

    Venue guide: North Greenwich

    Where is it?: Peninsular Square, Greenwich, London.

    How do you get there?: London Underground provides the most convenient transport to the venue, as the Jubilee line's North Greenwich station is adjacent to the arena. However, it can also be accessed by bus, with Transport for London having various routes and stops in the area, and boat, since the arena is situated on the Greenwich peninsular and is one of the stops on an express River Thames service from central London.

    Capacity: 16,500-20,000.

    What events will be held there and when?: Artistic gymnastics (July 28-August 7), trampoline (August 3-4), basketball (August 8-12).

    Public facilities: Entertainment Avenue — reputedly the same length and breadth as London's Bond Street — surrounds the arena and offers 20 bars or restaurants, while inside the arena there are 10 food or drink outlets.

    History: More commonly known as The O2 Arena after its sponsor but renamed for the Games because of the International Olympic Committee's strict sponsorship regulations, the venue began its existence as the Millennium Experience in 2000. It was then redeveloped and transformed into an entertainment complex, opening in 2007 as the second largest indoor arena in the UK. Within a year it had earned a reputation as the world's busiest music venue by selling more than two million tickets to concerts by UK and global stars. Last year it hosted the Brit Awards for the first time. But it is not just a music complex. The arena has also staged the ATP Tour Finals season-ending tennis tournament since 2009, as well as NHL ice hockey and NBA basketball games, the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, mixed martial arts, professional boxing and wrestling, darts, ice dancing and stand-up comedy.

    About London Spy

    London Spy is the place to keep you informed on all the news in and around the 2012 Olympics. From torch tours to ticket touts, from Greco Roman wrestling to Stratford International maintenance, from Lord Coe to Wenlock and Mandeville, we will have all the slightly left field stories covered.

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