Construction has been completed on the London 2012 Basketball Arena – the fourth venue on the Olympic Park completed, more than a year ahead of the London 2012 Games.

The Basketball Arena is one of the largest temporary venues built for an Olympic and Paralympic Games, after the Games it will be reused elsewhere. Construction began in October 2009, with work to erect the 1,000-tonne steel frame starting in March 2010. Building works are now finished within budget, making it one of the quickest Park venues to finish construction.

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Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) Chief Executive Dennis Hone said: "Completing construction on the Basketball Arena delivers another striking Games-time venue for the Olympic Park and an innovative structure that can be re-used elsewhere after 2012. As the fourth Olympic Park venue completed and one of the quickest to finish construction, the Basketball Arena is another milestone for the Olympic Park ‘big build’ and a tribute to the companies from across the UK involved in its delivery."

The venue will now be handed over to the London 2012 Organising Committee to carry out overlay works to get the venue ready for the first Olympic Park test event in August.

(CD/KMcA)