Olympic handball arena interest 'high'

More than 150 businesses have shown a keen interest in building a handball arena at Olympic Park.

One of the Olympic Delivery Authority’s (ODA) last projects, the arena will hold 1,000 people and be used for handball and, later, goalball at the Paralympic Games.

The ODA said interest in the contract was high and yesterday’s industry day on the project was “packed”, with attendance by more than 150 companies.

The deadline for expressions of interest are due by June 5 and a design and build contractor is expected to be announced early 2009.

Construction is slated for mid-2009.

ODA chief executive David Higgins said the arena would be used for various indoor sports after the Olympics, including basketball, badminton and gymnastics.