Olympic Stadium's external structure completes as ODA publishes Annual Report

The roof structure, which will support the fabric roof, and the black steel rakers, which act as the terracing supports for the upper tier 55,000 seats, have today been completed to form the outer shell of the Olympic Stadium, just fourteen months after construction started on the flagship venue.

The pictures showing the completed external structure of the Olympic Stadium can be viewed or downloaded:
http://mm.gettyimages.com/mm/nicePath/locog?nav=pr126243717

Publishing the report, ODA Chairman John Armitt said: 'The Olympic Stadium has already changed the east London skyline and is a visible symbol of the strong progress that has been made on the Olympic Park over the last year.  

'With almost three years to go before the start of the London 2012 Games, we are in a strong position and everyone on the project is committed to making the next year as successful as the last.

'However, there is no room for complacency and we cannot lose sight of the huge challenges that still lie ahead of us.'

The first of the 15m high, 85-tonne steel sections of the roof was lifted into place at the end of January this year, and now all 28 sections are in place over a month earlier than originally planned.

John Armitt added: 'The progress that people can now see is thanks to the hard work and professionalism of the team. This is a project without precedent - one of the largest construction projects in Europe delivering a multi-billion pound programme to a fixed deadline.

'We have hit all, and exceeded some, of the ten Milestones we set ourselves last year and we are on track and within budget.'

Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell said: 'The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be the largest sporting and cultural event the UK has ever hosted. It is testament to the hard work of the ODA and all those involved in building the venues and delivering the Games that we remain on time and on budget to deliver a spectacular London 2012.'

Notes to Editors:

1.    The latest pictures of the Olympic Stadium can be downloaded:
http://mm.gettyimages.com/mm/nicePath/locog?nav=pr126243717

2.    The Annual Report and Accounts 2008-2009 can be read or downloaded from the London 2012 website:
http://www.london2012.com/news/publications/pdf/oda-annual-report-2008-2009.pdf

3.    The expenses of the ODA Board and Executive Management Board can be viewed on the London 2012 website:
http://www.london2012.com/news/publications/pdf/oda-expense-report-2008-2009.pdf

– Ends –

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

Find out the latest from London 2012 HQ on our blog.