The Olympic Park in Newham is the heart of the 2012 Olympics

On your mark, get set, go: The race for accommodation in Newham is going to be competitive.

We’re going to briefly give you an introduction to London's Newham borough as there is so much to talk about with the different arenas and sports on offer.

Based in east London, this borough lies just 8 km from the City, and is one of the key boroughs for the presentation of the 2012 summer games.

A breakdown of the different sports and events on offer in Newham

From basketball to BMX biking, you’re going to be able to experience it all in Newham, where the brand-new and purpose-built Olympic Park can be found.

It may still be work in progress, but there are going to be 10 different venues where sport can be found, and you will be a source of jealousy for thousands of others who would love to be within the heart of this historical event.

We’ll dive into the Olympic sports venues available (excuse the premature pun) with the Aquatics Centre where well-known events such as the diving and synchronised swimming will also be held. The modern pentathlon will also take place here, in addition to all of the different swimming events, which will be carefully timed for a jam-packed schedule.

Whereas some of the centres are the core locations for a variety of sports, others are being prepared for one event in particular.

Such venues that can be found at Olympic Park include the BMX Circuit for BMX cycling; the wheelchair tennis events, which will be held at Eton Manor; the grand Olympic Stadium, which will be home to all athletics events (including those for the Paralympics); the Water Polo Arena and of course the Velodrome, where the gripping cycling events will run their course.

You may also choose to visit the Basketball Arena, where basketball events will run in tandem with handball and wheelchair-based rugby. Meanwhile, for those who want to enjoy more obscure sports, be sure to consider goalball and handball heats at the appropriately-named Handball Arena. Our final arena in the Olympic Park to mention is the Hockey Centre, which will additionally offer paralympic football events in addition to hockey.

If all of this wasn’t enough, the International Conference Centre ExCeL, which opened in May 2010, will also be hosting everything from boxing and fencing to judo and taekwondo, with a spot of wrestling, table tennis, weightlifting and volleyball. Paralympic equivalents to many of these sports are also available to enjoy once the 2012 events draw to a close in August.

If you thought that was a lot to take in, just wait until you get the opportunity to see all of these venues for yourself upon visiting Newham!

Best London holiday accommodation

Watching the summer games can be thirsty work...

Food and drink in Newham

It can be understandable that we will grow to miss our much-loved local while we are away. Places like the King Edward VII pub allow you to tuck into some nicely-priced grub while in Newham, and real ale enthusiasts will be impressed with the ever-changing range of beer on offer. As you are in one of the most multicultural places in London, international cuisine is at its best in Newham.

Shopping in Newham

As well as some markets that offer the freshest food (perfect if you choose to self-cater while in Newham), this vibrant London borough offers the biggest and best shopping district for the Asian community in the capital. Just visiting to admire authentic products is an experience in itself.

Things to do in Newham

Are you an advocate for alternative music who is feeling particularly raucous? If aquatic events by day and acoustic sounds by night are your calling, the late-night joints in Newham will allow you to enjoy the London experience in a way that’s truly memorable.

Transport in Newham: Everything you need to know

There are dozens of rail and Underground links in Newham to choose from depending on your area. As you would expect, major renovations have been underway because of how Newham has been selected as a leading place for the London Olympics.

Transport routes easily available  include the DLR, as well as the Hammersmith & City, Jubilee, District and Central lines. In addition to National Rail connections and the London Overground, Stratford International’s prime location in Newham means that you can also get the Eurostar easily – perfect for international visitors to London for the 2012 summer.