Greenwich park has been given the go-ahead to be used for the Olympic equestrian events. The London 2012 chairman Lord Coe said he made "no apologies" for wanting to use Greenwich Park, a world heritage site and a Royal Park, for the equestrian competitions during the 2012 Games.

A team of sports-planning and conservation experts from London 2012 sat through a five-hour meeting at Greenwich Town Hall, south east London, before its planning application was given the green light late last night. Objections came from more than 30 speakers who took an hour and 40 minutes to make their complaints.

Lord Coe said: "I think that the opportunity to showcase one of the most beautiful parks in the world and to be at the centre of one of the greatest sporting events is a good thing.

"With it is the opportunity to allow young people to take up sport and to see something at a local level that might just change their ambitions - I make no apology for that. If that can mean using your wonderful park then I support that."

Lord Coe urged the planning board and Greenwich residents to "trust us that we will protect the park and return it to the condition that we received it".

Describing it as a "national treasure" the double Olympic champion said he used a spot in the park, not far from where the cross country for the 2012 three day event will start, to compose himself ahead of races when he was making his breakthrough in international athletics.

The Olympic equestrian and modern pentathlon events are set to take place in July and August 2012 while the Paralympic dressage competitions take place in September 2012. The total closure would last four weeks and the children's playground and much of the Flower Garden would stay open for "all but the single day of the Olympic cross country". All the structures built for the Games including a 23,000-seat arena would be temporary and removed, according to Lord Coe.

A survey of 3,000 trees had been carried to try and understand how best to protect them and their roots, London 2012 organisers said.

Disturbing historic artefacts and the habitat of bats added to the potential for chemicals used on the course to hurt the wildlife chain were among the complaints made by the members of the local community who packed in to the meeting. Haulage routes through and across the park to set up the 2012 courses are presently unknown and could damage the land, it was argued.

Jill Butler of the Woodland Trust said her organisation "champions historic trees" and claimed that the Olympic plans would endanger trees. It could cause root damage to some historic Sweet Chestnut trees that are 300 years old, she suggested.

Speakers also argued that the congestion would be unbearable and that residents would prefer to spend the summer enjoying the park rather that hosting the Olympics. Spectator areas, the main stables, training and warm up areas, a veterinary centre, a medical centre, hospitality areas, a broadcast compound, a media centre, offices, food outlets and toilets will be included in the temporary arena, in the north west of the Park.

The 6km cross country course, to the south east of the arena, will also need support facilities such as spectator and warm up areas, toilets and places for food to be sold. A 1km modern pentathlon running course is to be set to the south east of the arena.

In support of the plan, a spokesman for the British Equestrian Federation stated that "horses do not destroy Royal Parks". The planning board was also told that Windsor would be no good for 2012 as it is a split venue which lacks facilities and is too far from the Olympic Village.

After the ruling Lord Coe said: "We are delighted with the outcome of this democratic process and thank the Greenwich planning committee and all the people who came out to speak for and against this application. "The message is loud and clear. This great park is on loan to the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and the people of the world. We must return it to the residents of Greenwich, to Londoners and visitors from the UK and around the world in the same condition, or better, than it was loaned to us.

"We take this responsibility seriously and will continue to work with the park authorities, resident and park user groups and the people of Greenwich as we develop and implement our plans to stage an extraordinary event in 2012."