THE Princess Royal opened an Olympic venue in the district today (Thursday).

Princess Anne started a race between canoeists from the GB Olympic team at the Lee Valley White Water Centre near Waltham Abbey.

The British athletes will use the centre before it opens to the public in April and it will host canoe slalom events for five days during the Olympic Games in 2012.

Silver medallist Campbell Walsh, who was one of the athletes to test the course today, said: “It's hugely exciting to test the rapids at the new Lee Valley White Water Centre for the first time.

“The course looks great and I'm sure it will make a spectacle of a race for the Olympic Games.”

Members of Waltham Abbey Town Council were among those who witnessed the event and clerk Kathryn Richmond said: “Her Royal Highness started the first race down the course this morning. It was very impressive.”

The Olympic Delivery Authority chairman John Armitt said it was a “milestone” to complete the venue under budget and so soon before the Games.

“Seeing canoeists and rafters use the courses for the first time gives us a glimpse of the excitement we can expect here in 2012,” he added.