Sir John Armitt CBE, Chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and former Chair of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), has been honoured as the first recipient of the Royal Academy of Engineering's Major Projects Award.

As the engineer responsible for delivering the London 2012 Games infrastructure, he has delivered the massive project on time and to budget while under intense scrutiny from the rest of the world.

The project has consistently met targets throughout the building phase and set new benchmarks for sustainable construction and technical expertise, thanks to Sir John's leadership in coordinating the work of hundreds of professionals to create new London landmarks. He was pivotal in all aspects of the Olympic and Paralympic Games infrastructure project, including: finance, engineering, environment, management and external relations, as well as acting as an ambassador for the project in explaining its complexities to the public.

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Congratulating Sir John on his award Professor David Delpy, EPSRC’s Chief Executive, said: "On behalf of EPSRC’s Council, Executive and staff, I'd like to congratulate Sir John on this landmark achievement. The Games and their legacy of world class facilities for the athletes of the future will be a fitting tribute to Sir John and the spirit of 2012."

Nominating Sir John for the award, Professor Peter Guthrie OBE, Head of the Centre for Sustainable Development and Professor for Sustainable Development at the University of Cambridge, said: "Sir John Armitt is as close as it gets to a complete civil engineer today whose achievements and reputation are on the scale of the great Victorian engineers. He has embraced the opportunity to deliver one of the most prestigious, visible and successful engineering projects in the last 50 years."

Ray O'Rourke KBE, Chairman and Chief Executive of Laing O'Rourke, said: "The success of the London 2012 project hinged on Sir John's deft leadership and understanding of the delivery requirements for this strategic project. He demonstrated great care in managing the politics surrounding the project and the many stakeholders who had an interest in it."

(CD/GK)