Ricoh Arena to host first Olympic event
Coventry’s Ricoh Arena will be the first stadium to host an Olympic event during the London 2012 Games, it has been revealed. The venue will showcase a women’s football match two days ahead of the opening ceremony in London.
The arena, which will temporarily be renamed the City of Coventry Stadium during the tournament, is set to host 12 matches of both the men’s and women’s competitions during London 2012.
The first matches in Coventry will take place on 25 July with a double header of women’s football starting at 5pm.
Daniel Gidney, chief executive of the Ricoh Arena, said: “The announcement of the sports competition schedule is another step towards this magnificent global event taking place right here in the city. The fact that we are the first English city to be staging an Olympic event at the 2012 Games will raise our national and international profile even further.
“We are all thrilled to be staging women’s and men’s football matches in the Olympic Games and we look forward to welcoming all the players, coaches, officials and spectators.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime event and I would urge everyone to pre-register for their tickets to make sure they don’t miss out on being part of the Olympic Games experience in Coventry.”
