The new aerial images, taken earlier this month, show the construction progress on the ‘big five’ venues (Olympic Stadium, Aquatics Centre, Olympic Village, Velodrome and IBC/MPC) as well as further progress on the new infrastructure and landscaping works across the Olympic Park that will help create the UK’s largest urban park for over a century. The new images follow the latest figures released by the ODA last week which show there are nearly 10,000 people currently working on the Olympic Park and Olympic Village.
 
Also included in the new images is the first glimpse of a new bridge constructed in Stratford that will create improved links for local people when it is opened in the summer and which has paved the way for transport improvements at Stratford Regional Station that will benefit local people before, during and long-after the Games.

Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) Chairman John Armitt, said: 'As we approach the halfway point of our toughest year in the construction of the Olympic Park, these new images show the visible progress being made. The structures of the "big five" venues are already firm fixtures on the east London skyline and we remain on schedule. However there is no room for complacency as construction activity accelerates in the coming months.'

Minister for Sport and the Olympics, Hugh Robertson, said: 'These new photographs bring to life the emerging splendour of the Olympic Park. As Shadow Olympics Minister, I remember the way the area looked before construction started so am particularly delighted, as I take up my post as Olympics Minister, to see how much has been achieved. It is an inspiring story.'

The latest Olympic Park aerial shots show:

• the Olympic Stadium at its full height with all 14 lighting towers now in place and work well underway on covering the cable-net roof;
• the wave-shaped Aquatics Centre steel roof structure in place with roof covering work well underway. The concrete dive pool and two 50m competition and training pools have also been completed and tested;
• the structure of International Broadcast Centre (IBC) completed and the Main Press Centre (MPC) taking shape;
• the distinct double-curved roof of the Velodrome lifted into place and work on the roof covering well underway; and
  
• the first three residential plots in the Olympic Village structurally complete and other residential plots approaching their full height.
  

The aerial pictures include the first photos of a new bridge constructed at Angel Lane in Stratford. The structure replaces the original Angel Lane bridge which was constructed during the Victorian era and was in need of replacement to allow it to carry a greater capacity of vehicles and pedestrians as numbers in Stratford increase during and after the 2012 Games. The removal of the old bridge also allowed essential works to be carried out at Stratford Regional Station for the London 2012 Games, including the extension of platform 10a to allow greater passenger capacity on trains travelling from central London.

The new bridge at Angel Lane is now in place and temporary routes over the new structure have been kept open to maintain access through the area for cyclists and pedestrians while the wider construction works on the bridge are finished. Construction work is on track to be completed in the summer when the new bridge will be fully opened, providing improved links in the local area to pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles.

Notes to Editors

1.    Aerial images of the Olympic Park can be viewed and downloaded for editorial use from http://mm.gettyimages.com/mm/nicePath/locog?nav=pr136804111

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For further information please contact the Olympic Delivery Authority Press Office on +44 (0)20 3 2012 700.

The construction of the venues and infrastructure of the London 2012 Games is funded by the National Lottery through the Olympic Lottery Distributor, The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Mayor of London and the London Development Agency.

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