1:37PM, Sat Jul 28, 2012

Newcastle's Big Olympic Football Party Begins At St James' Park

By India Adams Location: Newcastle

Newcastle's Olympic summer of football has begun as the city welcomes fans from Brazil, Mexico and Spain to St James' Park.

Sky Bet

£10 Free Bet
- Sky Bet are offering all new customers a £10 Free Bet Claim your free bet now

Thousands of athletes and visitors are expected in the city to watch some of the games scheduled to take place in the stadium, the home of Newcastle United - which has been rented by the London 2012 Organising Commitee and rebranded with Olympic logos.

Sandbags and barricades have been erected surrounding the ground for security and several city centre roads will be closed during the matches, which are a major part of this year's Olympic programme.

St James' park will host a total of nine matches, including a quarter-final in both the men's and women's competitions.

The first Olympic Games at St James Park will see Mexico men's team take on Korea followed by Gabon v Switzerland.

It is anticipated that businesses in the city centre will see a significant boost to their economic fortunes while the Olympics are on.

Football has featured at every Olympic Games since, with the exception of Los Angeles 1932.

Sandbags and barricades: Changes made to the city streets as Newcastle prepares

It was introduced as a medal sport at the 1908 Olympic Games. Great Britain won the gold medal, then successfully defended their title four years later in Stockholm.

The event comes as G4S chiefs face a backlash for failing to provide sufficient security staff for the Games.

Officers from Northumbria Police had to provide security for a city centre hotel hosting Olympic officials yesterday when G4S workers did not show up.

The Highways Agency has reminded visitors to the football and commuters to plan their journeys on match days to avoid congestion.

Ticket holders for the events at St James’s Park are being directed to park and ride or walk and ride facilities to get to the stadium rather than add to traffic around Newcastle city centre.

For more information on the fixtures click here

View Olympic Football Street Closures in a larger map

Road closures and times when traffic management measures apply:

Thurs July 26: Men's preliminaries (2 matches) 11.30am-8.15pm

Sun July 29: Men's preliminaries (2 matches) 2pm-10.45pm

Tues July 31: Women's preliminaries (2 matches) 11.30am-8.15pm

Wed Aug 1: Men's preliminaries (1 match) 11.30am-5.30pm

Fri Aug 3: Women's quarter-final 11.30am-5.30pm

Sat Aug 4: Men's quarter-final 2pm-8pm