IOC Hails "Fantastic" 2012 Olympic Stadium

(ATR) Denis Oswald, IOC Coordination Commission chair for London 2012, hails the 80,000-seat Olympic stadium as a "unique and spectacular theatre" after helping lay the final piece of turf to mark construction completion.

The Swiss joined the IOC's Olympic Games executive director Gilbert Felli , London 2012 chair Sebastian Coe, IOC Athletes’ Commission leader Frank Fredericks and Olympic Delivery Authority chief John Armitt at the ceremony.

"What a fantastic stadium. As host of the opening and closing ceremonies, this arena will provide the first and last memories that many people will have of London’s Games and I have no doubt that it will provide the perfect stage," Oswald said.

"When the athletes see what has been created here, I am sure that they too will be inspired to reach new heights in their sport. Congratulations to all of those involved in creating this unique and spectacular theatre."

Oswald's comments came on the eve of the IOC Coordination Commission's three-day inspection of London's Olympic preparations.

Fredericks, Namibia's four-time Olympic sprint gold medalist, said athletes who spent a lifetime seeking to achieve their 2012 Olympic dream in the best possible conditions "will not be disappointed".

Describing it as a "truly outstanding sporting arena", he added: "when filled with fans at Games time, I am certain that the atmosphere will drive many of the competitors to achieve new personal bests and create unique moments of Olympic history."

Construction on the stadium started in May 2008. Thirty three buildings on the site were demolished and over 880,000 tons of soil removed before building started.

The ODA said the project was completed on time and slightly under budget. The estimated final cost is $778 million.

The running track will not be laid until later this year by LOCOG. This is to ensure it is protected during the program of temporary overlay, including work for the opening and closingceremonies, which will require cranes in the field of play and could damage the track.

The total stadium island site covers an area of 40 acres; it is surrounded by water on three sides. At Games-time, five major bridges will lead spectators into the site.

Coe said the stadium would be the "beating heart" of the new Olympic Park and was testament to the fantastic work put in by Team Stadium, the architectural consortium, and the ODA that construction was kept on schedule and within budget.

"However there is still much to do. We now come in and do some work in preparation of ceremonies, to dress the stadium to ensure it has a London 2012 feel throughout and of course, the final touch – to lay the track," he said.

"By summer, the stadium will be a working venue ready to host a test event before it becomes the centerpiece of next summer’s Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. The innovative design coupled with fantastic crowds will provide an electric atmosphere at Games-time."

The first Olympic test event at the stadium is the British Universities & Colleges Sport Championships May 4-7 in 2012.

London mayor Boris Johnson said completion of the stadium construction was "another fantastic milestone in the preparations for London 2012. The real joy of being so far ahead is that, unlike any other host city, we are already able to focus on securing the legacy we are so determined to deliver from the Games".

That legacy includes English Premier League club West Ham relocating to the stadium in 2013.

Last month, they beat London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the battle to become the legacy tenant after promising to retain the athletics track after the Games, in line with a pledge made in London's bid pitch to the IOC in 2005.

As part of the post-Games conversion to a multipurpose sports venue with football and athletics at its core, the club will reduce capacity to 60,000 seats.

Written by Mark Bisson