Venue Report - Lord's Cricket Ground, Home for Archery

(ATR) Lord’s Cricket Ground, the home of cricket, is the Olympic home of archery.

Events run from July 26 to Aug. 3.

The competition takes place with archers shooting with the iconic Pavilion at their backs. But tradition had to take a backseat to the Games with one example being the Olympic Rings covering the Marylebone Cricket Club logo on the gates. To protect the hallowed pitch, arrangements were made so that no action took place on the bowling area.

Another temporary change to Lord’s are two grandstands next to the archers. Cricket oval seating is usually several hundred feet away, but with this setup, 6,500 spectators are able to sit right next to the shooting line.

For women’s team semi-finals on July 29, around 90 percent of seats were occupied. Fans were enthusiastic and loud—an achievement at a sport where virtually all elements of competition are imperceptible. Most of the enthusiasm was understandably reserved for Team GB. When in the final end of their match against Russia, when an errantarrow scored a four, a pained groan came from the stands.

Venue operations ran smoothly as the site is used to hosting sporting events with several thousand more spectators. The seating capacity for Lord’s is 28,000.

Walking through Lord’s is a step back in time. Little has changed in the more than 200 yearsit's been in use. Oak wood paneling and wrought-iron staircases abound. The venue’s reputation as a redoubt of upper-crust British life is well-earned and palpable.

A garden bar area was popular following competition as fans packed the area for a post-archery drink.

On July 29, the only IOC member in attendance was World Archery president Ugur Erdener. Joining him, however, was IOC executive director for the Olympic Games, Gilbert Felli.

Written by Ed Hula III.

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