Early start for 2012 stadium

2008-05-22 13:00

London - Construction work at London's 2012 Olympic Park began on Thursday, three months ahead of schedule.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown witnessed the first foundations being started on the Olympic Stadium which will be the focal point of the project on former industrial land in east London.

"The Olympic and Paralympic Games will mark a fantastic celebration in 2012 as Britain hosts the world's greatest sporting event," Brown said in a statement from the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA).

"The early start to building work on the Olympic Park site is good news, taking us another step closer to 2012 and the regeneration of one of the country's most deprived areas."

While an early start to construction is a boost for London's organisers, especially with an IOC co-ordination commission in town to check on progress, ODA chairperson John Armitt said there was no room for complacency.

"It is great news that we can make an early start but this is a project with an immovable deadline so we know there are big challenges ahead," Armitt said.

The Olympic Stadium, which will cost an estimated 496 million pounds, will hold 80 000 people during the Games but will be scaled back afterwards to a more compact 25 000-seater.

- Reuters