A glimpse of London Olympics
New images of London’s proposed Olympic stadium have been released less than two weeks before the host city for the 2012 Games is chosen.
If London’s bid is successful, the 80,000-seat stadium would be built in Stratford, east London.
The artist’s impressions also show the inside of the arena after the Games, when it would be turned into a 25,000-seat athletics complex.
The building would also house the London Olympic Institute, a new hub of sports medicine and research for elite and community athletes.
World renowned stadium architect Rod Sheard said the complex, which would not change its main sport after the Games, would be a model for future bidding and host cities.
“London is creating a stadium that retains athletics as its long term primary sport and this has not been done in recent Olympic history.”
During the Games, high-profile athletics events as well as the opening and closing ceremonies would take place in the arena.
London 2012 vice chairman Alan Pascoe said: “Spectators will be able to see the runners in all eight lanes around the bends and down the home straight from their seats and without having to stand up or move.”
“I would love to have run in a stadium like this in London in front of a home crowd,” said dual Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes.
“To have a dedicated 25,000 seat athletics venue in London after the Games will be just amazing. We really need a first class stadium that will be used to host other championships in the future and for local community events,” Holmes added.
Sports minister Richard Carbon said the “visionary” plans would transform the deprived East End and show the rest of the country that first-class design could exist in any city.
Images of the new aquatics centre, which will be built even if the bid fails, have also been released.
Australian Olympic gold medallist and London 2012 ambassador Grant Hackett praised the design.
“Each competition pool has a spectator arena around it, which means there will be a great atmosphere for the events.
“As an athlete I know just how important this is.”
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