IOC Begins London 2012 Site Inspection
The International Olympic Committee’s monitoring team is beginning a three-day visit to London today to check on progress for the 2012 Games.
The Co-ordination Commission will tour Olympic sites and be given briefings on progress over the last year.
One area of potential concern is the Olympic Village, where work is due to start next month without a contract with the constructors although the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) insists plans are on track.
The ODA did admit that the ‘challenging’ global economic climate has made agreeing a final deal with Australian form Lend Lease more difficult but it says interim agreements will allow the work to start in June.
An ODA spokesman said: ‘The Olympic Village site is now clear. Planning applications for the first blocks of the flats have now been submitted and Lend Lease are due to start piling next month.
‘We expect to sign interim agreements shortly and aim to have financial arrangements in place before the main build later this year. The changing economic situation remains a challenge but we remain on-programme.’
The IOC is to visit venues on Tuesday morning and then meet the main London 2012 project leaders. The Co-ordination Commission will devote Wednesday to updates on issues involving sport, marketing and athletes, and on Thursday will deal with cultural, communications and financial issues.
