Horse Guards Parade Olympic beach volleyball stadium approved

Plans for a 15,000-seater temporary stadium in Horse Guards Parade to host Olympic beach volleyball have been approved by Westminster City Council.

Two warm-up beach courts will also be created, along with six training courts in St James's Park.

Proposals were also approved to hold the start and the finish for the road cycling, race walk and Olympic and Paralympic marathons on The Mall.

Horse Guards Parade hosts many major events, including Trooping the Colour.

The 15,000-seater stadium will have lighting for evening competition and a video screen.

'We're thrilled'

Volleyball contestants will be housed in the Olympic village near Stratford.

The application was submitted by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).

Conservative councillor Alastair Moss, who is on Westminster's planning committee, said: "We're thrilled to be part of the Olympics and are proud to be able welcome so many of the world's top athletes.

"Westminster has a strong history of holding very successful major events and we will work hard to ensure this is another of them."

In 2012, a total of 96 athletes will be competing in the men's and women's volleyball events.

The competition will consist of 24 teams, divided into six pools of four teams.

Beach volleyball made its Olympic debut at the 1996 Atlanta Games.