Designs have been unveiled for the London 2012 Handball Arena that will become a new multi-use indoor sports centre after the Games.

The venue has been designed to be simple, efficient and flexible. The designs were part of the planning application for the venue which has now been submitted.

The Arena features external copper cladding to give it a distinctive appearance that will change colour as it ages.

The concourse level has windows all around building giving the chance to view sport taking place inside.

The venue also has a vibrant and multi-coloured interior, with retractable seating to create a flexible space and with 100 light pipes in the ceiling to allow natural light into the venue.


During the Games the Arena will host Handball preliminaries and quarter-finals, as well as Modern Pentathlon disciplines. It will also be the venue for Goalball during the Paralympic Games.

After the Games the Handball Arena will be adapted to become a multi-sport arena for community use, athlete training and small to medium-scale events. Retractable seating will be used to make the most of the Arena when events are not taking place.

Space will be kept around the venue for temporary warm-up and broadcasting areas.

Sebastian Coe, Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee, said: "This is another example of the Games acting as a catalyst for a state-of-the-art sporting facility which will be a high-quality venue at Games-time, while also providing a legacy for sport in London and the UK.

"The fact that Handball will have its own arena at Games-time will be a great boost to the sport in this country and it will be a multi-purpose arena after the Games."

(CD)