London Latest -- Updated -- Olympic Landmark Takes First Step; Brazil Picks London Home for 2012

Iconic Olympic Attraction Faces Crunchtime Decision

The Olympic Delivery Authority gave its blessing Tuesday to plans for the 114-meter ArcelorMittal Orbit sculpture, set to be Britain's largest piece of public art.

An ODA panel approved the project, which will now be considered by the Greater London Assembly.

"The planning application for the Mittal Orbit was last night given planning approval subject to conditions and a section 106 legal agreement. This is approval in principle and the application will now be referred to the Mayor of London before the ODA PDT can issue a final decision," said an ODA spokesperson.

Representatives from all four Olympic host boroughs attended Tuesday night's meeting at Old Town Hall in Stratford.

The Greater London Assembly will scrutinize building plans for the installation, which has taken heat in recent months for its possible interference with television signals, questionable treatment of sewage and unorthodox aesthetics.

The spiraling red tower, commissioned by London Mayor Boris Johnson and previous Olympics minister Tessa Jowell, will consist of a continuous looping lattice of tubular steel. It will be 22m taller than the Statue of Liberty in New York and offer unparalleled views of the entire 250 acres of the Olympic Park and London’s skyline from a special viewing platform.

Turner Prize-winning artist Anish Kapoor has been commissioned to deliver the $29 million work.

Steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, ArcelorMittal CEO and the richest man in Europe, will contribute $24 million, with the London Development Agency funding the rest.

The attraction will stand in the southern part of the Olympic Park between the stadium and aquatics center and will open in time for the 2012 Olympics. Post-Games, the Olympic Park Legacy Company will take ownership and run the visitor attraction.

Rio 2016 Chooses London HQ

London’s historic Somerset House will be the epicenter of all things Brazil during the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Brazilian Olympic Committee and Rio 2016 handpicked the 16th century neo-classical building for Casa Brasil, their Summer Games headquarters.

"Casa Brasil in London marks a significant moment in our journey towards the 2016 Games in Rio, and we look forward to contributing to Olympic London with a full celebration of Brazilian culture and sport," Rio 2016 president Carlos Nuzman said in a statement.

Tuesday’s agreement with Somerset House marks the latest booking by a national Olympic committee of a high-profile, high-demand entertainment venue for its London 2012 Olympic House.

The French Olympic Committee will wine and dine guests at former fish market Old Billingsgate, Event Magazine reported in its May issue.

Trafalgar Gets Boccia Court, Live Site Designation

London Mayor BorisJohnson transformed Trafalgar Square into a boccia court Tuesday to mark two years to go until the 2012 Paralympic Games.

Paralympic champion boccia athletes demonstrated the sport for the Mayor as well as members of the British Paralympic Association, GB Boccia and BT, London 2012’s official communications services partner.

Boccia is a variant of bocce designed for athletes with severe disabilities and is one of three Paralympic sports without an Olympic counterpart. Team Great Britain has the world’s top-ranked boccia squad.

Johnson used the occasion to announce that the square will screen live coverage of the Paralympics to an audience of up to 10,000.

"Trafalgar Square is an iconic London landmark, recognized around the world and a natural focal point of the city," he said in a statement.

"I cannot think of a more fitting tribute to mark the capital’s joy in hosting the Paralympic Games than making it an official Live Site and the focus for public celebration."

Trafalgar will also host cultural performances from disabled artists and producers during the Aug. 29 – Sept. 9 competition.

Written by Matthew Grayson.