Earls Court

Originally an exhibition centre, Earls Court is the venue selected for the volleyball portion of the 2012 Olympics in London, England. The entire venue has a total of 40,000 square metres of open floor space and is also credited as being the largest unsupported roof in Europe. Divided into two phases, the building has left its mark in UK history as a coveted place for entertainment.

The History Behind Earls Court

Located in West London and close to the Natural History Museum, the land has played an important role in British entertainment since its original conception. The grounds of the centre were famous for its calibre of entertainment before the first phase of the building had even been considered. It was a popular location to hold well-known outdoor shows, such as the 'Wild West Show' and attracted many famous people. In fact, Queen Victoria would often attend the shows. Designed by C. Howard Crane at a cost of approximately £1.5 million, the first phase of the centre opened in 1937.

In the latter portion of the 1980s, Earls Court no longer had enough space and was in dire need of an addition. After spending an additional £100 million on the construction of Earls Court Two, Diana, Princess of Wales, would open the event in October of 1991. The second phase added 17,000 seats to the venue.

Because of the facility's current design, not many changes will have to be made to the existing floor plan. Besides some minor aesthetic changes, the only significant upgrade scheduled for the building is the addition of extra seating to bring the total number up to 15,000 seats. After the finals are over on August 12, 2012, the building will be returned to its pre-game state.

The Events

The indoor volleyball portion of the 2012 Olympics was supposed to be held at a temporary multi-sport arena in Olympic Park similar to the Basketball Arena. After some changes in the requirements, however, the committee eliminated one of the four temporary complexes from the plans and the sport was moved to Earls Court. Approximately 288 athletes from around the world will compete in front of up to 18,000 spectators in an attempt to secure one of the medals up for grabs.

Travelling to Earls Court

Earls Court will be easily accessible to visitors who choose to use public transportation as well as for those who will be using private means. The venue is located close to the Earls Court and West Brompton Tube stations, making it one of the most convenient ways to travel from anywhere in the city. The National Rail Train will also have lines running to and from the facility. For those who choose to drive, the venue is just off the M4 motorway.

The Earls Court facility is a great example of incorporating the history of the city into the 2012 games. The venue's convenient location and abundant space will ensure that both athletes and visitors will have an enjoyable time. The 2012 Olympics in Earls Court will make the facility as popular for volleyball as it is for music.