Workmen start dismantling the finish to the Olympic marathon course in the Mall near Buckingham Palace, not pictured, in London, Monday Aug. 13, 2012, following the closing ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics. The London summer games ended late Sunday, with the next summer games scheduled to be in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2016. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
August 13, 2012 - 9:27 AM
LONDON - The sand, volleyballs and bikinis have departed London's government district, leaving politicians and civil servants behind.
Workers using fork-lift trucks, cherry pickers and small cranes have begun dismantling the temporary Olympic beach volleyball arena on Horseguards Parade — a storied square in the heart of London's Westminster area.
Sand cleared away from the venue will be used to construct 36 new beach volleyball courts in southern England, part of efforts to boost the sport's profile in Britain.
It will take several weeks to take down the towering bleachers, which are next door to Prime Minister David Cameron's home at 10 Downing Street.
Cameron won't be disturbed by the noise as the work takes place — he and his family left Britain on Monday on vacation.
News from © The Associated Press, 2012