Hadaway, a life-long horse rider, will be responsible for the planning, organisation and management of the Olympic and Paralympic equestrian events in 2012 – show jumping, dressage and cross country - at the Royal Park, the choice of which has angered some local residents who have launched a campaign to block it being used.

 

The Northamptonshire-based Hadaway has worked as a cross country course builder, moving on to course design and in to event management, becoming director of Blair Castle International Horse Trials in the 1990s.

 

In 1996, he was appointed the technical advisor for British Eventing, and in 2002 became sport and technical Manager responsible for the management and development of the sport.

 

More recently as consultant to the British Equestrian Federation (BEF), Hadaway has advised on matters relating to increasing levels of participation, facilities development and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, liaising on projects such as the pre-Games training camp identification process.

 

His work for the BEF has included a successful funding application which will result in £1.4 million being invested in to grass root equestrian sport over the next three years.

 

Hadaway travelled to Hong Kong as part of a team of International Equestrian Federation (FEI) international specialists to work on the cross country phase of the Olympic test event in 2007 and will return as part of the same team for the Olympic Games next month.

 

His other experience includes working alongside Sue Benson, who will design the cross-country course for 2012, as eventing manager at Bramham Interational Horse Trials, working as a volunteer at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and leading a team of experts who helped create the cross-country course at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha.

 

Hadaway's responsibilities for 2012 will include the overseeing of all aspects of the equestrian events, ensuring they are organised in accordance with the international equestrian federation (FEI) rules, the International Olympic Charter and the Host City Contract. 

 

He will be the focal point for liaison with the FEI and the BEF, and he will be working with all functional areas to ensure the coordinated delivery of a wide range of support services such as the design of the venue, operational aspects, accreditation, transport and organisation of volunteers.

 

Hadaway will initially start his role in October.

 

He said: "I'm thrilled to have this once in a lifetime opportunity to be involved in delivering the Equestrian sports for the London Games.

 

"The site at Greenwich is spectacular and I’m confident that 2012 will be a unique and amazing experience for everyone involved.

 

"I look forward to working with local residents, the equestrian world, and all our stakeholders to make the events a huge success.

 

"We have so much expertise in this country which I intend to draw on as we build a team to work on the event.” 

 

The FEI secretary general Alex McLin said: “The FEI is very pleased with the appointment of a person with Tim’s knowledge of horse sport as the equestrian competition manager for London 2012.

 

"The fact that this is a full-time function will allow for the detailed consideration of all the organisational aspects of the sport.

 

"The FEI is looking forward to exceptional Olympic and Paralympic equestrian events to be held in the heart of London.

 

"This will undoubtedly provide a strong legacy in increased interest and participation in horse sport across London the UK as a whole.”

 

Andrew Finding, the chief executive of the BEF, said: “I am delighted for Tim.

 

"He has undertaken some outstanding work for the Federation in the last few years.

 

"He is knowledgeable, thoughtful, caring and consultative in his approach.

 

"He will be a great asset as our sport’s competition manager.

 

"The BEF also fully supports the choice of Greenwich Park as London 2012’s venue for equestrian events.”

 

Hadaway is the ninth competition manager that London 2012 have announced for the 26 sports following archery, badminton, basketball, fencing, sailing, shooting, swimming and tennis.