Legacy Process Underway for London 2012 Media Centers
London 2012 is soliciting interest for the use of its media complex after the Games end.
The Olympic Park Legacy Company called Thursday for expressions of interest from those wanting to take over the International Broadcast Center and Main Press Center.
The area will serve more than 20,000 reporters, photographers, broadcasters and support staff across almost one million square feet. A catering village will dish out 50,000 meals each day, and a 656-foot-high street will have a hairdressing salon, post office, general store, bank, ATMs and a bar.
The OPLC has long envisioned a creative industry hub as the complex’s legacy but demands only that future tenants bring much-needed jobs to the London borough of Hackney.
"Innovation and enterprise will help define the long-term future of the Olympic Park, and the Broadcast and Press Centers are fundamental to this through the creation of opportunities for businesses and the communities living nearby," OPLC CEO Andrew Altman said in a statement.
"As we did with the Olympic Stadium, we want to bring interested parties to the table and understand how their proposals can fit in with our vision to create an employment district."
The Broadcast Center can be reconfigured into four separate buildings and has almost 100,000 square-feet of office space and more than 500,000 square-feet of commercial space.
The five-story Press Center adds almost 300,000 square-feet of office space.
The fate of a 1,200-capacity parking lot for the Games is to be determined.
Interested parties have until Nov. 26 to submit expressions of interest. The OPLC will then conduct market testing until year’s end with hopes to begin signing tenants in early 2011, hopes that could prove unrealistic.
A cross-party report released last week by the London Assembly found that more funds are needed to convert buildings and upgrade nearby transportation so as to attract tenants if the complex’s legacy as a creative industry hub is to be realized.
The Economic Development, Culture, Sport and Tourism Committee also recommended that potential tenants not be excluded so long as they can provide as many skilled jobs as their creative counterparts.
Olympic Aquatics Center Gets Ceremonial First Tile
Tiling is underway at the London 2012 Aquatics Center.
British swimming great Mark Foster laid Thursday the first of more than 850,000 pieces that will line the competition, diving and training pools as well as the venue’s locker rooms.
"It’s another milestone towards completing the Aquatics Center for next summer," Olympic Delivery Authority chief David Higgins said in a statement.
"With the covering of the sweeping roof complete and ceiling under way the venue is on track to become the gateway to the Games and a new facility for the community after."
More than 30,000 pieces of timber will clad the wave-like roof, arguably London 2012’s most daring architectural gesture.
Construction of the 17,500-capacity arena remains on schedule to hold test events beginning next summer.
British Sport Has New Exec Holding Purse Strings
UK Sport has a new CEO with less than two years until London 2012.
Former COO Liz Nicholl will now lead the organization responsible for disbursing lottery funds to top British athletes.
UK Sport announced the promotion Thursday after former CEO John Steele took over the Rugby Football Union in late July.
"Liz Nicholl’s appointment will bring experience and continuity to UK Sport at a crucial time in the build-up to London 2012," British sports minister Hugh Robertson said in a statement.
"Her key role is to deliver podium success."
Nicholl ran English Netball for 16 years before joining UK Sport in 1999.
British Olympic Ball Sells Out
The British Olympic Association expects capacity crowds Friday for its biggest-ever British Olympic Ball.
Organizers sold 1,100 tickets for the annual fundraiser to support budding British Olympians.
"It is through events such as this that the BOA is able to provide our nation’s athletes with the resources and support they need to fulfill their Olympic dreams," BOA chief Andy Hunt said in a statement.
A host of current and future stars of Team Great Britain will celebrate alongside legends such as five-time Olympic champion rower Steve Redgrave.
Attendees will bid for the chance to ride the London 2012 Velodrome with Olympic champions Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton, tumble in the Gymnastics Center with reigning world champ Beth Tweddle and sail with Team Origin at the Louis Vuitton Trophy Regatta in Dubai.
Celebrities from the worlds of sport, fashion and entertainment are also expected to be in attendance at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
Telecom giant BT is the presenting sponsor.
Written by Matthew Grayson.
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