Olympic News
A thousand UK firms get Olympic contracts
More than 1,000 UK firms have so far won contracts from the Olympic Delivery Authority, according to new figures. The total value of contracts awarded for building the venues and infrastructure for the London 2012 Olympics exceeds £5 billion, with 98 per cent of suppliers based in the UK.
Where company size is known, over two thirds of the 1,036 firms awarded work are Small to Medium Sized Companies (SMEs), whilst more than 25 per cent of suppliers are based in one of the five host boroughs.
Olympic First
Pictures have emerged of the first Olympic building to be completed. Housing three 150-tonne transformers, the electricity sub-station built for EDF Energy is located next to the energy centre on the western edge of the park, to the north of the Olympic Stadium in Stratford. First to the finishing line, the electricity substation will serve the Olympic Park and adjoining Stratford city development and as one of the smallest Olympic projects, measures just 70 metres in length.
The basic structures of the main stadium, the Aquatics Centre and much of the Athletes Village are in place whilst the frame of the media centre is nearing completion.
Wheels in motion for 2012 Velodrome venue
Work has begun on the steelwork construction of the London 2012 Velodrome, the permanent 6,000-seat venue that will host the indoor Olympic Cycling and Paralympic Cycling events. With the steelwork sections rise in height by 12 metres from the shallowest point to the highest part of the structure, more than 2,500 sections of steelwork will be installed to complete the roof structure and upper tier of the arena. The shape will form a distinct double-curved roof structure which has been designed to reflect the geometry of the cycling track.
The upper and lower tiers will be divided by a glass wall giving spectators a view over the Olympic Park and out across London. The main contractor, ISG, began construction of the Velodrome on schedule in March, and will finish in early 2011.