WITH the Olympics now in full swing, reporter DANIEL BINNS looks at how Waltham Forest is contributing to what some have dubbed 'the greatest show on earth'.

The logistics of providing staff and facilities for the estimated 14,000 athletes taking part in the London 2012 Games has been no small task, and the borough has certainly been playing its part.

More than 100 sportsmen and women are thought to be using sites in the borough for training.

They include Team GB's boxing team at Forest School in Snaresbrook, the USA's boxing, judo, volleyball and archery squads at the Score Centre in Leyton and the Italian volleyball team at Leyton Sixth Form College in Essex Road.

The Italians came to the college after being impressed by its gleaming new sports hall, which was built as part of a £40 million rebuilding project.

The venue was even used for a friendly between the team and the Turkish national squad in the run-up to the Games.

College principal Kevin Watson said: "The fact that such a strong volleyball playing nation as Italy chose to base themselves at Leyton shows just how good our facilities are.”

The borough's Construction Skills Centre, in Cathall Road, Leytonstone, has also been playing a key role as a base for the 400-strong Australian Olympic team to both store and distribute their equipment and uniforms.

Meanwhile the grounds of the Score Centre are also being used by the Italian beach volleyball squad, after huge piles of sand were brought in to the site last year.

The council says the sand was originally intended for community use and it will remain after the Games.

Leader Cllr Chris Robbins said it was part of an on-going project to renovate all the borough's leisure centres.

He added: “It’s wonderful that our sporting facilities are being used by world class athletes as they prepare for the Games.

“This will help inspire residents and encourage them to get involved in sport.”

However several of the other venues have attracted a storm of controversy, such as the basketball training complex in Leyton Marsh.

The council granted permission for the temporary structure after waiving planning rules due to the “exceptional circumstances” of the Olympics, much to the anger of campaigners who were dismayed at the loss and damage to the public green space.

The use and 16-month closure of Drapers Field in Leyton High Road, a sports field previously used by an estimated 9,000 a month, as a holding and security area for the Games has also prompted widespread criticism.

BUILDINGS and playing fields are not the only contributions the borough is making to the Games.

Hundreds of residents have been putting in thousands of hours of unpaid work as 'Games Maker' helpers and as London Ambassadors greeting tourists to the capital.

And a 100-strong team of 'Welcome to Waltham Forest' volunteers have also been on-hand in Waltham Forest to guide visitors.

Then there are those such as Sergeant Hamlet Jules, a 48-year-old from Leyton.

Not only has he been contributing to Olympics security in his day job working for the Ministry of Defence, he is also an army reservist helping out at the Games during his annual two week slot of training time in the Territorial Army.

Sgt Jules, a member of 68 squadron at the TA base in Lea Bridge Road, Leyton, is one of the thousands of soldiers helping to fill the security gap left by the failings of government contractors G4S to provide enough staff for the Olympics.

He said he would be carrying out a mixture of army communications and general security roles.

He added : “I have been in the TA for 25 years, so I really wanted to do this and be able to be part of this amazing event.”

Click here to follow the Waltham Forest Guardian on Twitter

Click here to follow the Waltham Forest Guardian on Facebook