QUEEN ELIZABETH II VISITED THE NEW OLYMPIC PARK SITE IN LONDON RECENTLY TO INSPECT THE ONGOING PREPARATIONS FOR THE UPCOMING 2012 GAMES. THE QUEEN TOURED THE AREA IN EAST LONDON FOR THE SECOND TIME SINCE THE CAPITAL CITY WAS AWARDED THE RIGHTS TO HOST THE OLYMPIC GAMES IN 2005. SHE VIEWED THE MAIN OLYMPIC STADIUM AND WALKED ALONG A SECTION OF THE 100-METER TRACK AREA. HER ESCORT FOR THE OCCASION WAS TWO-TIME OLYMPIC 1,500-METER CHAMPION SEBASTIAN COLE, WHO ALSO HEAD THE LONDON OLYMPIC ORGANIZING COMMITTEE. "WE ARE THRILLED TO WELCOME HER MAJESTY BACK TO SHOW THE PROGRESS WE'VE MADE", COLE SAID. "THE SKYLINE IN THIS PART OF LONDON IS BEING CHANGED AND THE OLYMPIC PARK WILL BECOME THE HOME TO WORLD CLASS SPORTS IN 2012 AND HOME TO A NEW COMMUNITY AFTER WARDS." THE QUEEN WAS SHOWN WHERE THE SPECIAL ROYAL BOX WILL BE LOCATED IN THE 80,000 CAPACITY STADIUM, AND SHE PLANTED THE FIRST OF 4,000 TREES TO BE CULTIVATED AT THE PARK SITE. THE QUEEN IS EXPECTED TO OPEN THE OLYMPICS IN 2012, WHEN SHE WILL ALSO BE CELEBRATING HER 60th YEAR AS MONARCH. THE VISIT CAME THREE DAYS AFTER LONDON MARKED THE 1,000 DAY COUNTDOWN UNTIL LONDON'S 2012 OPENING CEREMONY. THE 1 SQUARE MILE OLYMPIC PARK ALSO WILL INCLUDE THE VELODROME, AQUATICS CENTER, BASKETBALL ARENA AND MAIN MEDIA CENTER, IT IS LOCATED NEXT TO THE ATHLETES' VILLAGE. THE VISIT COMES AMID DEBATE OVER WHETHER THE SITE SHOULD BE NAMED 'ELIZABETH PARK' AFTER THE QUEEN. THE BRITISH OLYMPIC ASSOCIATION WANTS TO KEEP OLYMPIC IN THE NAME.
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