Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has announced that the steel structure for the 2012 Olympic Velodrome was completed this week. Construction on the Velodrome began last March, and was one of the last of the ‘big five’ Park venues to break ground. Now the work has started to install the distinctive double-curved cable-net roof, and the ODA say it will be ready for use during the first part of 2011.
ODA Chief Executive David Higgins explained, “The completion of the Velodrome steel structure gives us an exciting glimpse of what will not only be a world-class venue for the Games and legacy, but another striking piece of architecture for the Olympic Park.
“The Olympic Stadium and Aquatics Centre are already firm fixtures on the east London skyline, but the Velodrome taking shape has created a new focal point in the north of the Olympic Park. This year will be the toughest so far across the site, and we now turn our attentions to the lifting of the huge cable-net roof of the Velodrome, a key engineering challenge, which will help crown this spectacular venue.”
On track to be one of the first venues completed, the 6,000-seat Velodrome will host the Olympic and Paralympic Track Cycling events in 2012. The Velodrome’s design features a 360 degree concourse level offering views of Olympic Park and the London skylinelower. The concourse separates the lower tier of 3,500 seats and an upper tier of 2,500 seats.
Beijing Team Sprint gold medalist Jamie Staff visited the future venue earlier this week telling the ODA, “It was great to visit the London 2012 Velodrome site and I was hugely impressed by the progress being made. It was good to see at first hand how the venue is being designed and built to create a great crowd atmosphere and deliver the best possible conditions for track cyclists. I’m sure this will be a perfect venue for Team GB to continue to hit gold in 2012.”
After the games, the Velodrome will be used by both elite athletes and the local community, and be the centerpiece of a VeloPark that will include a BMX track, mountain bike trail and a road-racing circuit.
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