London 2012 Velodrome on track

The venue remains on target to be the first Olympic Park sporting venue to be completed early in 2011. The distinctive roof of the Velodrome has been covered and the building is watertight, which has allowed work to begin on the timber cycling track.

The Olympic Delivery Authority is aiming to create the world’s fastest cycling track by tailoring the slope of the track and setting the right temperature and environmental conditions within the venue for record-breaking conditions. The seating has been designed to go all the way round the track to create the best possible crowd atmosphere for the Games.

The track is being built from sustainably-sourced Siberian pine, specially selected because the trees are known for being straight and tall, making them suitable for the lengths of timber required.

The extreme Siberian climate means the timber is very stable and will not shrink or contract in the environmental conditions inside the venue.

ODA Chief Executive David Higgins said: ‘The start of work on the Velodrome track is a significant milestone and takes us another step closer to this becoming the first Olympic Park sports venue to be completed early next year.’

The 6,000-seat Velodrome willhost the Olympic and Paralympic Track Cycling events in 2012. After the Games, the Velodrome will be used by elite athletes and the local community and will include a café, bike hire and cycle workshop facilities.

View the progress being made on the Velodrome track on the latest London 2012 webcam.

Read the full media release