Eton Dorney Rowing Lake is a London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games venue and will host the Rowing, Flat Water Canoeing and Paralympic Rowing events.  This page takes a closer look at the venue of Eton Dorney itself, including its history and sporting importance as well as local area information.   

Download the official 2012 Olympic Venue Guide for Eton Dorney Rowing Lake.

Visit the official Eton Dorney Rowing Lake website

History

Plans to provide a secure, still-water rowing lake were first conceived by teachers at Eton College in the 1960s.  Now in the 21^st Century Dorney Lake is one of the world’s finest all-year-round facilities for rowing, adaptive rowing and flat water canoeing.  As well as being a facility for the students of Eton College, the rowing lake is also an important venue for international competitions as well as a treasured community facility. 

The Eton Dorney Rowing Lake has hosted a number of international regattas including the World Rowing Championships in 2006 and the BearingPoint Rowing World Cup in 2005.  Being chosen as a venue for the 2012 Games is yet another accolade fit for this spectacular venue.  

Sports & Community Access

As well as being an international venue for rowing and canoeing, Eton Dorney hosts a number of other sporting and community events.  Six triathlons and a 10km road race are hosted around the lake complex each year, all well supported by both athletes and fans.

Facilities at Eton Dorney Rowing Lake are open for community use – charges only being made during major events – therefore the centre has become a treasured feature of local life.  Over 100 schools and clubs, as well as universities and the military, now make use of the facilities on offer at Eton Dorney making it an invaluable resource.

As well as serious sporting use, the grounds of the rowing lake are used by locals for leisure and exercise with dog walkers, joggers and cyclists taking advantage of the excellent facilities on offer.  The Park and Arboretum in the grounds of the lake are home to a growing population of flora and fauna as well as a number of sculptures throughout.  

Technical Information

The Eton Dorney Rowing Lake uses some of the most up-to-date technology, making this venue perfect for hosting such an important event as the 2012 Games. 

• The main rowing lake is 2,300 metres long.
• The lake has eight lanes, each 13.5 metres wide with a minimum depth of 3.5 metres.
• The lake is filled of water coming from underground streams percolating through a natural gravel filter.
• Algae growth is discouraged by using barley bales.