The decisive factors in the choice of Greenwich appear to have been twofold: pressure from the British Equestrian Federation, which wanted to be near the centre of action (at the Beijing Olympics their events were held in Hong Kong), and the enthusiasm of the big television networks for what is undoubtedly an "iconic" location.

The government has thrown its weight behind Greenwich. The Olympics minister, Tessa Jowell, even stated that the die was cast before 23 March. Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, and his predecessor, Ken Livingston, and the local Labour MP Nick Raynsford, back the bid, as does Royal Parks, an agency of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Of local groups, the Blackheath and Westcombe Societies objected to the planning application, while the Friends of Greenwich Park and the Greenwich Society expressed strong reservations. 

On May 6, at both constituency and council level, voters can express what they think of their elected representatives' enthusiasm for laying a much-loved, fragile site before the Olympic juggernaut.