Seats slide in Olympic Handball Arena

Final designs for the Olympic Handball Arena are expected to include retractable seats on the scaled-down stadium.

Original plans for the arena contained 10,000 seats, but that was cut to 7,000 when the amount of temporary seating was slashed.

Revised designs for the last permanent venue on the 2012 Olympics will be released early next month.

CJ understands the arena will contain retractable seating to make the floor space as flexible as possible.

One source said: "The designers are looking at retractable seats, which will slide in and out over the courts, allowing more viewing space or court space depending on the demands of the event."

A five-strong list of contractors (see below) is fighting it out to build the job.

A winner will be chosen by next spring ahead of construction work starting in summer 2009.

The design team of Make Architects with PTW and Ove Arup is currently finalising plans.

The Olympic authorities have already confirmed the handball finals will now take place in the 12,000-seat basketball venue.

After the Games the Handball Arena will be turned into a multi-sports indoor gym.

Shortlisted contractors

• Barr
• Buckingham Group
• Byrne Group
• Mansell Construction Services
• Verry Construction