Design proposals for the basketball arena, the third largest venue on the Park, have gained planning permission.

The building will be home to basketball, the Handball finals, Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Rugby and will become a holding area for athletes for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

During the Olympic Games the temporary Arena will have 12,000 seats for the Basketball preliminaries and quarter-finals, as well as the Handball semi-finals and finals. During the Paralympic Games it will have a capacity of 10,000 seats for Wheelchair Basketball and Wheelchair Rugby.

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The temporary structure was originally located in the west of the Olympic Park just north of the Olympic Stadium. Last year, its location was changed to the former site of the Fencing Hall, in the north of the Park, after Olympic Fencing, Wheelchair Fencing and Paralympic Judo were moved to the ExCeL venue in Docklands.

Basketball Arena Project Sponsor Paul Snoddy said: "The Arena will be one of the largest temporary venues built for any Games and will provide a great experience for spectators and athletes.

"After the Games, two thirds of the materials and elements of the Arena can be reused or recycled, potentially allowing other parts of the UK to benefit from London 2012."

(CD/JM)