Design team appointed for Handball Arena with multi-sports legacy

During the Games the Handball Arena will host Handball and Goalball. In legacy the Arena will be transformed into a new venue with the flexible seating capacity and facilities necessary to hold a wide range of indoor sports training and local to international competitions.

ODA Board Member and Chairman of the evaluation team Sir Nicholas Serota said: 'We have selected the best candidate from a strong field with an ability to deliver an excellent venue design for Games-time and for Legacy use. Although a relatively new practice, Make has already established a strong reputation for designing high quality buildings at low cost.'

ODA Chief Executive David Higgins said: 'We have appointed a team with the optimum mix of experience, capability and creativity to design a Handball Arena that enhances the experience for Handball and Goalball athletes during the London 2012 Games and leaves a lasting sporting and community legacy.

'We are a step closer to people being able to see the designs of all of the permanent venues that will host a fantastic festival of sport in London 2012 and provide new homes for elite and community sport in legacy.'

Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee Seb Coe said: 'This is another important piece of the jigsaw, as we continue to prepare for the magnificent summer of sport in 2012. The handball arena will also provide fantastic sporting facilities for the local community after 2012.'

Notes to Editors:

1. An OJEU for the construction of the Handball Arena is expected to be issued in 2008.

2. Designers have been appointed for the London 2012 Main Stadium (HOK as part of Team Stadium), Aquatics Centre (Zaha Hadid) and Velodrome (Hopkins Architects).

3. Seven design teams have been shortlisted for the design of the Eton Manor sporting ‘hub’ in the north of the Park that will host Gymnastics and Aquatics training facilities during the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Archery and Wheelchair Tennis events programme. In legacy it will provide a flexible sporting legacy including a Hockey centre, tennis facilities and other multi-purpose sports facilities.

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For further information please contact the Olympic Delivery Authority Press Office on +44 (0)203 2012 700

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