London 2012 Olympic Games - Eventing

The Eventing Ground Jury, L-R Nick Burton (GBR), Anne- Mette Binder (DEN) and Australia's own Gill Rolton.

Good looking Dutch Eventing Team member, Tim Lips is pictured with his Beijing partner, 'Oncarlos'.

The rather impressive entrance to the Media area at Greenwich.

Apparently these are the only Olympic souvenirs officially on sale that have a horse theme.

The main water jump at 18ab, the Inland Waterways is beautifully designed by Course Designer, Sue Benson to represent a pre Industrial Revolution working canal wharf. The cross country course is absolutely beautiful, but more of it tomorrow.

Greenwich Park is beautiful and has hardly changed its borders since the 15th century. It is the oldest of the London Royal Parks.

The Greenwich Meridian runs directly over Olympic Fence 14 (pictured). The Longitude 0 meridian set at the adjacent Royal Observatory was declared as Prime Meridian of the World in 1884. Therefor every day, month, year and millennium starts at Greenwich. At night a green laser light is projected from the Observatory along the Meridian.

The magnificent Main arena is set amongst the beautiful Royal Observatory and Royal Naval College buildings. The cross country course runs through the arena with fence 15, The Tower of London consisting of two hedges on a bending line. This is the first time at an Olympic Games that the cross country course has gone through the main arena. It is possible to sit in the stands, watch the course on TV and watch the riders gallop through and jump. It is all about making cross country day an easy and enjoyable experience.

The calm before the storm. This is where the spectators will queue up before entering the Horse Park to the right. Long queues are expected with two days of Eventing dressage to come.

Hours before the Opening Ceremony Olympic Park was getting busy. This bridge leads from the transport (DLR and Underground) to the main Olympic area.

A huge Westfield Shopping complex is part of the Olympic Park redevelopment. And I mean huge.

Just like Sydney there is a huge army of volunteers and they are all friendly and helpful.

Down the main street of Greenwich with the Observatory dome in the distance. The road closures must cause great confusion to the locals. Greenwich is a charming area with plenty of pubs, restaurants and charming shops, as well as a market.

It does take a bit of time to work out the transport system, but once understood, it is a good system. The London transport system has always been user friendly.

Olympic pins are the thing and there is a serious trade in them as this Australian pin dealer attests.

A view to Stamford International station, and part of the Olympic Villiage in the background. At this new Light Rail Station, the athletes enter the transport system, the press arrive for the main press centre and the general public arrive to attend the events.

At 3pm the general public start to arrive at the Olympic Park for the 9pm Opening Ceremony, with the ArcelorMittal Orbit sculpture in the background.

The Olympic Athlete village which will become Manhattan Loft Gardens accommodation after the Games.

The Media exit from the Horse Park looking down in to Greenwich and the famous Cutty Sark, the 1869 Tea Clipper. The Army is manning the security for the Media entrance.

It has been a stressful time for all concerned with the Australian Team and that is evident by this picture of Team Farrier, Sandy Parker. First we heard the news that Shane Rose's horse, Taurus had to be withdrawn from the Team and be replaced by Megan Jones and Allofasudden. However, the Thoroughbred gelding had to be withdrawn at the last minute because of a foot abscess. The sad thing for Megan is that the horse will be sound in about three days.

The ever popular, Boyd Martin, a member of the USA Eventing Team is pictured at the Eventing Trot Up with his Selle Francais gelding by Quidam de Revel, 'Otis Barbotiere'.

The always elegant Australian Eventing Team member, Christopher Burton is pictured during the Trot Up with Jean and Jade Findlay's, 'HP Leilani'.

Australian Eventing Team member, Lucinda Fredericks is pictured with her much fancied, 'Flying Finish' during the Eventing Trot up in the Equestrian Stadium at Greenwich this morning. London is the second consecutive Olympic start for Lucinda, who once again joins her husband, Clayton on the Australian Team.

USA Team horse, 'Mystery Whisper' bred and trained by Heath Ryan is pictured striking a pose at the Eventing Trop Up this morning. Mystery Whisper is pictured with and is being ridden for the USA by former Australian Team Gold Medallist, Phillip Dutton.

UK based Australian Team member, Clayton Fredericks trots up for his second consecutive Games. Clayton will be riding the Contender gelding, 'Bendigo'

The London Olympics have certainly been tough for Australian Eventing Team vet, Denis Golding. Let's hope all his worries are now behind him.

Andrew Hoy looks delighted to be trotting up for his seventh Olympic Games Appearance on the Australian Team. And that includes three Team Gold Medals and one Individual Silver.

And then there was Sam. UK based Sam Griffiths, a member of the 2010 WEG Team in Kentucky was pressed into action with his talented Heraldik gelding, 'Happy Times' and named on the Australian Team when Megan Jones' Allofasudden had to be withdrawn.

World and European Champion, Michael Jung is at short odds to be Olympic Champion riding the beautiful Stan the Man XX gelding, Sam. The colourful German Team Members are pictured during the Eventing Trot Up.

Ingrid Klimke is well known in Australia and she is pictured with her beautiful Beijing German Team Gold Medal partner, 'Butts Abraxxas'; another good eventer by Heraldik.