The ODA’s last set of milestones - ‘the big build: structures’ - were announced in summer 2009 and outlined how the main structures of the 2012 venues and essential new infrastructure would take shape and be nearing completion by this summer. The latest milestone has now been completed with water now beginning to fill the new white water canoe centre being built in Hertfordshire for the 2012 Games, meaning that all ten milestones have been achieved on time.

A further set of milestones – ‘the big build: completion’ – were unveiled today which cover the final stage of the construction project. The milestones outline how by summer 2011 the structures of the main venues will be complete and ready to be handed over for fit-out and testing work, with all major new infrastructure finished and landscaping work well advanced across the Olympic Park. A document outlining the new set of milestones can be viewed at http://www.london2012.com/publications/the-big-build-completion-milestones-to-27-july-2011.php

Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) Chief Executive David Higgins said: 'By setting out clear milestones right from the start of the project, we have offered a window into the delivery of this unprecedented construction project, allowing people to judge our progress for themselves. Achieving our latest set of milestones has seen the Olympic Park site changed beyond recognition with the structures of the Big 5 venues already new landmarks for east London, and good progress also made on venues around the UK.

'The new set of milestones released today will carry us into the final phase of the construction project and match the promise made back in 2006 that we’d have the major venues ready to be handed over by the summer of 2011. We are in good shape for the home straight but the last leg of the race is often the hardest and we are not complacent about the many challenges still ahead.'

Seb Coe, Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG), said:  'The ODA has done a fantastic job in meeting its milestones, we could not have hoped for better partners. The completion of the Big Build is on schedule and the venues will be handed over to LOCOG in a year’s time.  We will still have work to do on these venues but to get them a year in advance means we have time to fit out them out to turn them into competition venues and test them so that are ready to put on a world class event in 2012'.

Hugh Robertson, Minister for Sport and the Olympics, said: 'Each venue is a significant and challenging construction project in its own right intensified by the pressure of an immoveable deadline and intense public scrutiny. It is thanks to the hard work and dedication of the ODA, and its workforce, that the project has hit all its milestones again this year. With the majority of the construction phase now complete we are in an excellent position for the staging and testing work to being next summer'.

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: 'This is a fantastic testament to the construction management and engineering skills we have working in our great city. With the finish line now firmly in sight, this track record gives Londoners every confidence that this final set of milestones published today will be accomplished in style. Meanwhile, other highly skilled teams are transforming our capital's infrastructure from upgrading our tube system to laying the foundations for Crossrail. Let nobody be in doubt that in London we have a great 'can do' attitude that gets things done.'

The delivery of the last set of milestones (‘the big build: structures’) since summer 2009 has included:

- The main structure and roof of the Olympic Stadium completed, with work underway on the field of play and the first seats fitted
- The permanent structure and roof of the Aquatics Centre’s completed and all three swimming pools dug out
- The Velodrome structure and roof completed
- The structures of the International Broadcast Centre, Main Press Centre and multi-storey car park completed
- More than 75% of the Olympic Village homes structurally complete
- Essential new infrastructure delivered with more than half of the new bridges complete and key new utilities buildings in operation
- Planting underway across the Olympic Park with the first of more than 2,000 new trees and 300,000 new wetland plants in place
- The 2012 rowing venue at Eton Dorney completed and the 2012 canoe slalom venue nearing completion with water beginning to fill the courses

As the Olympic Park construction project moves into its final year, the completion of the ‘Big Build’ will see the venue structures handed over to LOCOG next summer, allowing venue fit-out and testing work to begin. This will include:

- Building and fitting out kitchens, catering kiosks and hospitality areas
- Installing sports equipment and venue fields of play
- Space planning for changing facilities, meeting rooms and press conference rooms
- Installing tabled media seating and broadcast platforms
- Laying the extensive cabling required for scoring, results and broadcast systems

LOCOG and the ODA will also work jointly on some other venues and structures including the temporary Hockey pitches, the Eton Manor facilities and further landscaping works in the Olympic Park.

Notes to Editors

1. The latest aerial images of the Olympic Park site can be downloaded from http://mm.gettyimages.com/mm/nicePath/locog?nav=pr138945809

2. The Lee Valley White Water Centre is being built by the ODA near Waltham Cross in Hertfordshire and will host canoe slalom events during the Olympic Games. Before and after 2012, the venue will be owned and managed by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority (LVRPA) as a sporting and leisure facility for canoeing and white-water rafting, as well as a major competition and training venue for elite events. The venue is on track for completion in the Autumn and will be ready for Games training and testing in 2010-11 and will open to the public for rafting and canoeing in April 2011.

 - Ends -

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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