Green light for London's Hockey Centre

Ken Livingstone told delegates at the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations General Assembly that funding for the new venue had already been secured.

The announcement means that three of London's new Olympic Park venues will be built even if the capital does not win the race for the 2012 Games.

"We are ready to deliver," the Mayor told the audience, who gathered for the assembly meeting at the SportAccord congress in Berlin.

"Funding for the Games has been agreed, over 60 per cent of our venues already exist and planning permission for the stunning new Olympic Park has been granted.

"Building work has already started. Two key venues - the Aquatics Centre and the Velopark - are already taking shape. And today I'm delighted to announce a third new facility for Hockey.

"What that means is simple: there would be only two permanent venues left to build for London to host the Games."

Delegates also heard bid Chairman Sebastian Coe detail London's plans to deliver a permanent sporting legacy for every summer Olympic sport.

"I well remember returning from the 1984 Games and witnessing the unique enthusiasm that the Games can foster," said the double Olympic champion.

"I went back to my athletics club in London, along with Daley Thompson, fresh from his second Decathlon gold.

"We were greeted by queues of children, and they didn't want to become rugby players or cricketers, but Olympians.

"That is why we are absolutely determined that London will deliver the best sporting legacy. Every sport will have a legacy in London.

Lord Coe outlined plans to base training facilities, medical resources and a research centre within a London Olympic Institute based in the Olympic Park site.

"Every year one million people from across the globe will use these facilities," he said.

18 April 2005