Dorney Lake

2012 Olympic venue

The lake was used as the 2012 Summer Olympic venue for rowing and canoe sprint, and as the 2012 Summer Paralympic venue for rowing. For the duration of the Olympics, the lake was officially referred to as Eton Dorney; confusingly, a separate venue in Stratford was called Eton Manor due to 19th-century associations with the school.

To provide for Olympic spectators, the existing facilities were enhanced to include 20,000 additional seats; most of these seats were temporary. Construction of enhancements to Dorney Lake began in October 2009, following investigations by Oxford Archaeology, including a new cut-through between the competition lake and the return lane, a new bridge and an upgraded access road, funded by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA). During the Olympic events, Dorney Lake was staffed by around 3,500 personnel including volunteers; it could accommodate up to 30,000 spectators per day. A temporary bridge over the River Thames linked the Dorney Lake site to Windsor Racecourse, where a pick-up and drop-off point for Olympic spectators was established. Other access options existed for walkers and cyclists.

Past events

Dorney Lake has hosted the following international rowing events:

• 2005 Rowing World Cup (26–28 May)
• 2005 Coupe de la Jeunesse (29–31 July)
• 2006 World Rowing Championships (20–27 August)
• 2011 World Rowing Junior Championships (3–7 August)
• 2012 Summer Olympics (27 July – 12 August: rowing from 28 July to 4 August, then canoe sprint)
• 2012 Summer Paralympics (29 August – 9 September: rowing from 31 August to 2 September)
• 2013 Rowing World Cup (21–23 June) The lake also hosted the annual National Schools' Regatta from 2016-2024. It will be hosting another regatta in 2026.

Lake specifications

The lake's dimensions follow the FISA rules for a rowing lake suitable for hosting a World Rowing Championship, World Rowing Cup or Olympic regatta:

• Stillwater, with consistent water conditions
• 2200 m straight length for racing
• 8 rowing lanes, each 13.5 m wide
• Minimum water depth of 3.5 m
• A return channel allowing boats to move to the start, separated from the main lake by an island

Home regattas

Since the lake was opened, a number of annual regattas that were previously held on the River Thames have been transferred to the lake. These include the Marlow Regatta in June, the Metropolitan Regatta in May/June, and the Wallingford Regatta in May.

Public access

The public are allowed to use the grounds of Dorney Lake when sporting events are not being run. The two-kilometre-long flat, straight paths that run along each side of the main lake make it a popular venue for runners, skaters, and even cross-country skiers practising with roller skis. The picturesque landscape also makes it a popular location for dog walkers and people out for fun.

Gallery

File:Eton Dorney - geograph.org.uk - 3069753.jpg|alt=Picture of the crowd at Dorney Lake during the 2012 Summer Olympics|The lake during the 2012 Summer Olympics File:Panorama of Dorney Lake..jpg|Panorama of the lake looking down the lake from the training centre File:Landing Stages at Eton College Rowing Centre - geograph.org.uk - 2556003.jpg|alt=Landing stages at the rowing centre with the building for the rowing centre in the background|Landing stages at the rowing centre File:Footbridge, Dorney Lake - geograph.org.uk - 3603649.jpg|Footbridge at the lake

References

References

1. [http://www.dorneylake.co.uk/about1.html dorneylake.co.uk: "History & Future of Dorney Lake"] {{webarchive. link. (4 October 2011)
2. The Olympic whitewater events took place at [[Lee Valley White Water Centre]] in [[Hertfordshire]].
3. [http://www.london2012.com/news/archive/2009-10/work-starts-on-time-at-the-london-2012-rowing-and-canoe-sprint-venue.php London2012.com: "Work starts on time at the London 2012 Rowing and Canoe Sprint venue"] {{webarchive. link. (12 October 2009)
4. [http://www.dorneylake.co.uk/twenty.html Dorney Lake and the 2012 Olympics] {{webarchive. link. (24 April 2012 . Retrieved 19 April 2012.)
5. "Living Near Dorney Lake". [[South Bucks District Council]].
6. "Eton Dorney – Travel". London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
7. (2012). "Park and Ride / Cycling and Walk Sites for Dorney Lake". South Bucks District Council.
8. [http://www.london2012.com/games/venues/eton-dorney.php London2012.com profile.] {{webarchive. link. (30 November 2009)
9. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rowing/19318884 "2013 Rowing World Cup regatta to be held at Eton Dorney"]. BBC. 20 August 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
10. (2024-06-05). "National Schools' Regatta 2025 to return to Nottingham".
11. "Technical Details". Eton College.
12. "DORNEY LAKE - Leisure".