Scottish company wins contract to build third biggest venue on the Olympic Park

During the Olympic Games the temporary Arena will have 12,000 seats for the Basketball preliminaries and quarter-finals, as well as the Handball semi-finals and finals. During the Paralympic Games it will have a capacity of 10,000 seats for Wheelchair Basketball and Wheelchair Rugby.  It will also house the athletes before they make their way down to the stadium for the opening and closing ceremonies.

Scottish companies that have already won work supplying the ODA include:

• BiP Solutions, from Glasgow, which is assisting the ODA deliver strong supply chain opportunities;
• The Miller Partnership is part of the team reviewing technical standards of venues;
• Weldex Offshore Limited based in Inverness are providing cranes for the Stadium; and 
• Euro Pools PLC from Glasgow are providing Pool Treatment services to the Aquatics Centre.
  

Fifteen Scottish businesses have now been awarded contracts directly with the ODA with a further 15 Scottish businesses have won Games-related work through the supply-chain.

ODA Chairman John Armitt said:

'We want to work with the best in British businesses to deliver the venues, and companies of all sizes.  The Basketball Arena is a significant venue for us as it will be the third largest venue on the Park, and will be the largest temporary structure ever built for an Olympic and Paralympic Games.

'I’m delighted that another contract has been awarded to a Scottish company, demonstrating that the Games are benefitting the whole nation.'

Tessa Jowell, Minister for the Olympics, said:

'This contract is yet another excellent example of how the benefits of the Games are spreading way beyond London.  Just as Scottish athletes like Chris Hoy are a key part of Team GB, Scottish businesses like Barr Construction are playing a key role in building the Olympic Park.'

Scottish Enterprise Chief Executive Jack Perry said:

'This is great news not only for Barr Construction but for Scotland in general, especially in the current economic climate.  Securing a major contact of this size is impressive and Barr are to be congratulated on their success.

'With all eyes now focused on the Games in London in 2012, we have a real chance for Scottish companies of all sizes and with relevant skills and expertise, to demonstrate what they can do for large scale projects on an international stage.

'The opportunities from London 2012 are also a tremendous launch platform for companies hoping to go on and be involved in the Commonwealth Games in 2014.  This early experience will mean that Scottish companies will be fitter and more able to tender successfully for contracts.'

The Arena will be the largest temporary venue built for any Games.  There is no legacy requirement for the basketball arena as the Handball Arena will be turned into a multi-purpose sports centre. The contractor will therefore own the Basketball Arena structure, and the ODA will 'rent' it from them for the duration of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.  Afterwards, the contractor will dismantle it and remove it from site, significantly reducing the overall cost for the construction of the arena compared to making the arena a permanent venue.

Notes to editors:

1.      The contract has been awarded to Barr Construction.

2.      The temporary structure was originally located in the west of the Olympic Park just north of the Olympic Stadium. Last year, its location was changed to the former site of the Fencing Hall, in the north of the Park, after Olympic Fencing, Wheelchair Fencing and Paralympic Judo were moved to the ExCeL venue in Docklands. This change enabled us to create more space for the Parklands so spectators can enjoy more of the Park and maximise the use of the other venues.

3.      In November 2007 the ODA appointed a multi-disciplinary design team for the Basketball Arena, made up of Sinclair Knight Merz, Wilkinson Eyre and KSS Design Group.

4.      Detailed designs will be completed by October 2009 and construction will start in early 2010.

5.      You can download pictures of the basketball arena from http://mm.gettyimages.com/mm/nicePath/locog?nav=pr122335409

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For further information please contact the Olympic Delivery Authority Press Office on +44 (0)20 3 2012 700 or visit the website at london2012.com.

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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