Olympic aquatics centre construction starts early

Construction of the London 2012 aquatics centre – billed as a rival to Beijing’s eye catching Water Cube – has begun two months early.

The first of around 2,400 concrete columns are being installed in the ground to create the foundations, which are to be completed by the end of the year.

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has pledged to begin above-ground structure work in the next 12 months as part of 10 new project milestones unveiled today.

ODA chairman John Armitt said the milestones to 27 July 2009 would revolve around visible above-ground work onsite, including commencement of work on the stadium's upper levels and roof.

Milestones include the removal of 52 electricity pylons from the site, completion of foundations for the aquatics centre and stadium, completion of works at the Weymouth and Portland sailing venue, and commencement of the foundations for the velodrome and press centre.

“We have certainly got challenging times ahead but if we can do as well as we have done over the past 12 months, we will (succeed),” Mr Armitt said.

The ODA revealed it had met seven of its 10 milestones outlined for completion before the Beijing Games.

It is slightly behind schedule to complete all soil remediation, still negotiating funding of the Olympic village, and has suffered a set back in the construction of the Boxbourne white water canoe centre, which had to be moved because of soil contamination issues.

Olympics minister Tessa Jowell said commencement of work on the aquatics centre marked a major moment for the project, as the venue promised to be the most iconic on the site.

“I would say it will be as iconic as that in Beijing,” Mr Armitt said.