LONDON 2012: Triathlon takes in the sights - but will it be a spectacle?

By Gerard Meagher, Sportsbeat

‘ICONIC' and ‘backdrop' were the buzzwords as London 2012 organisers announced detailed plans for the triathlon competition today - but does the race have the substance to back up the style?

PICTURE POSTCARD: The London 2012 triathlon will take it a host of the capital's landmarks, including Buckingham Palace

The London 2012 triathlon, as has been public knowledge for quite some time, will be based in Hyde Park but will depart its boundaries for the cycling leg and take in some of the capital's postcard landmarks.

Locog confirmed today that 40km cycle will take in Constitution Hill, Hyde Park Corner, Wellington Arch, Buckingham Palace and the Victoria Memorial in what appears to be a high octane sightseeing trip.

The course has already met the approval of International Triathlon Union president Marisol Casado while the International Olympic Committee will certainly applaud the use of said landmarks.

But the underlying problem remains, does the course prove a stern enough challenge for the competing athletes and is a more high quality race being sacrificed for aesthetic reasons?

Locog's arguments for choosing Hyde Park are clear and it would be naïve to suggest Henry VIII's hunting grounds do not provide their benefits.

As Locog director of sports Debbie Jevans correctly points out, this will be the first Olympic triathlon for 12 years to take place in the city centre and it certainly takes advantage of one London's existing assets.

"Hyde Park allows us to bring triathlon to the city centre," said Jevans. "At the last two Games the triathlon has been outside of the city centre so it's absolutely fantastic to be at the heart of the [London] Games.

"The backdrops are second to none. From the feedback we have received the athletes are excited being here in 2012."

The Hyde Park venue will also receive an IOC thumbs up in terms of spectator potential. Aside from a temporary stand on the bank of the Serpentine, the vast majority of the triathlon crowd will take it all in for free.

In 2007, the Tour de France set off from London and generated crowds of approximately 250,000 and anything near a repeat of that would delight both Locog and the IOC - who have consistently stated that threadbare crowds was among the major blots in Beijing 2008's copybook.

Locog also have face to keep - after all, the Sydney 2000 triathlon showcased the Opera House while the Beijing race was staged at the scenic setting of the Mings Tomb Reservoir - just a stone's throw away from the Great Wall of China.

"Hyde Park is very, very accessible," added Jevans. "We are expecting huge crowds of people and the most amazing event."