Organisers begin talks over stadium project

London 2012 organisers are to begin negotiations with the Team McAlpine consortium over the design and construction of the main Olympic stadium, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) said. The ODA, which is responsible for ensuring the completion of new...

London 2012 organisers are to begin negotiations with the Team McAlpine consortium over the design and construction of the main Olympic stadium, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) said.

The ODA, which is responsible for ensuring the completion of new venues and infrastructure for the London Games, has chosen the consortium as the sole partner for the 80,000-seat centre piece in east London.

Team McAlpine built the Telstra Stadium, the main stadium for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, London's ExCel Exhibition Centre, which will also be used for the 2012 Games, and Arsenal's new 60,000-seat Emirates Stadium.

The Olympic stadium will be at the heart of a 200-hectare site in London's East End and will host the opening and closing ceremonies together with the athletics programme.

London organisers are keen to avoid the embarrassing construction problems that have beset the new £750-million ($1.4 billion) Wembley stadium project.

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