London's Olympic organisers have been given the green light by Greenwich Council to use the Royal Artillery Barracks and the O2 Arena as host venues during the 2012 Games.

The Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich will stage Olympic and Paralympic shooting events, as well as the Paralympic archery competition. Meanwhile, the O2 Arena will host gymnastics, basketball and wheelchair basketball. Plans submitted by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) in partnership with the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) include temporary shooting ranges and spectator seating stands at the Royal Artillery barracks and northern part of Woolwich Common.

Temporary facilities also include four indoor and three open-air ranges to be used for qualifying rounds and finals of Olympic events. Outdoor ranges will be removed to allow archery ranges to be installed for the Paralympics. Meanwhile, a range of temporary facilities will be erected at the O2 Arena to accommodate up to 18,000 spectators, although local residents will still be able to access the venue's bars, restaurants and clubs during Games time.

Work is expected to get underway at the Royal Artillery Barracks in early 2011 and at the O2 Arena in May 2012. ODA chief executive David Higgins said: "The Royal Artillery Barracks will be a fitting venue for the shooting events at the London 2012 Games and our temporary works will help us deliver the best possible facilities for athletes.

"Securing planning permission is an important step forwards and keeps us on track to start installing the temporary measures on site early next year." Image: London 2012