Work has started on fitting out the rooms inside the Olympic Stadium a year after construction began on the venue.

More than 700 rooms will be based below the podium level of the Stadium, including eight changing rooms and an 82m track in the west stand for athletes to use when warming-up.

Since last May, construction has included installing more than 4,500 reinforced concrete columns into the ground, up to 20m deep, to provide the foundations for the Stadium structure. Twelve of the 85-tonne steel roof sections have been lifted into place and the remaining 16 will be in place by the end of 2009.

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The first permanent footbridge to the Stadium 'island' has been lifted into place and work on the supports of the other four bridges has begun.

John Armitt, Chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority, said: "One year on from the start of the "big build", the Olympic Stadium is on track and already becoming a feature of the east London skyline. The steady and safe progress is a credit to the team on site and their suppliers across the UK.

"The Stadium is on schedule to host the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the London 2012 Games in just over three years time and become a high-quality facility in legacy for athletics and other sports."

(CD/JM)