"For West Ham, we have identified a site much better-suited to their needs." He said: "We made a commitment there would be a permanent athletics facility and we have honoured that commitment. London mayor Ken Livingstone said major football clubs such as West Ham would not be able to become tenants. But it will be."Īfter the Games have finished, the temporary seating will be taken away and the stadium will become a 25,000-capacity venue with a permanent athletics track.Īn anchor tenant such as a lower-league football or rugby club is actively being sought, but one has yet to be found. "If it's not ready on time, that is probably the greatest shame the nation has faced in years. "They've got a large contingency fund if things go wrong but they don't want to spend more than that. "It's absolutely non-negotiable that it has to be ready on time," said Radio 5 Live sports news correspondent Gordon Farquhar. This is a cleverer solution."Īn artist's impression of how the stadium will be pieced together "This is not a stadium that's going to be screaming from the rooftops that it's bigger and more spectacular," he said.
facilities such as catering and merchandising will be grouped into self-contained 'pod' structures.Ĭhief architect Rod Sheard, of HoK Sport, said the stadium would make a big impact, but not in the same way that previous Olympic stadia had.a fabric curtain will wrap around the stadium structure, acting as additional protection and shelter for spectators.a cable-supported roof that will stretch 28 metres the whole way around the stadium, providing cover for two-thirds of spectators.25,000 permanent seats, 55,000 demountable.a sunken bowl built into the ground for the field of play and lower permanent seating, designed to bring spectators close to the action.
The stadium will be the centrepiece for the 2012 Games and will host the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the athletics events.
"This augments and complements the other great stadia that London now has - Wembley, the Emirates and the new development at Twickenham," she said. She also felt the stadium would be a great addition to the capital's sporting facilities. "Once the Games are over this will then be translated into a stadium that will not only host grand prix athletics events and other national sport events but will also serve the communities of the boroughs." Jowell added: "This is a very important Olympic milestone and this stadium is focused very much on legacy and sustainability.