Building Work Underway on London 2012 Velodrome

Source: Olympic Delivery Authority | Posted: 25th March 2009

Above: An artist's impression of the interior of the new velodrome in London.

Construction work is now underway on the London 2012 Velodrome, in the same week as the start of the Track Cycling World Championships in Poland where Great Britain's medal winning cyclists from Beijing will be back in action.

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is working with world-class contractors, architects and track designers in the sport, and has consulted with Olympic Champion Sir Chris Hoy to aim for the London 2012 Velodrome to have the fastest track ever, providing a world class facility not just for the Games in 2012 but for the next generation of Hoys, Wiggins and Romeros to train and compete on:

• The Velodrome designers, Hopkins Architects, are working closely with track designers to tailor the track geometry and set the temperature and environmental conditions within the venue to create a record-breaking track
• The venue is being designed to create the best possible crowd atmosphere in the 6,000 capacity venue to help maximise the performance of cyclists and aim to give Team GB a home advantage in 2012
• The Velodrome is being constructed by ISG who were also responsible for replacing the track at the Manchester Velodrome which led to the British team securing nine gold medals at the World Cycling Championships last year.

The start of construction on the Velodrome follows the huge success of British cyclists in Beijing and the growing popularity of cycling:

• According to Sport England figures, over half a million more people are taking part in sport since London won the 2012 bid with cycling the second fastest growing sport in the country
• Association of Cycle Traders' figures show that bike sales are bucking the credit-crunch with cycle shops still enjoying growing sales since the economic downturn and Cycle to Work scheme sales doubling in 2008 
• Figures from Transport for London reveal a 'cycling renaissance'. There has been a 91% increase in the number of cyclists on London's roads since 2000 with an estimated half-a-million cycle journeys every day. 
• The 2012 Velodrome has the perfect success model to follow - Manchester Velodrome opened in 1994 and has become the busiest Velodrome in the world, with an over-subscribed track programme producing 40,000 rides per year for all riders - novice to elite, from 9 years to 79 years.

ODA Chairman John Armitt said:

"The success of our cyclists in Beijing and the growing popularity of cycling in the UK will help give us real momentum as we start construction work on the 2012 Velodrome. The start of construction work is a significant milestone in our plans to create a world-class cycling venue with a record-breaking track for events in 2012 and the legacy of first-class facilities to help create the next generation of Olympic champions.

"The Velodrome is the third sports venue on Olympic Park under construction and together with the wider cycling facilities to be built after the Games, this will be another world-class new venue for London."

Sebastian Coe, Chair of the London Organising Committee, said:

"The success of our cyclists in Beijing and their medal hopes at this week's World Championships prove Britain leads the way in world cycling and deserves a world-class stage in 2012 so the start of work on time on a landmark new cycling venue for London is a significant milestone.

"Our Velodrome plans are driven by legacy and we are aiming for this to not only be a venue where records are broken and the British gold-rush continues in 2012, but a breeding-ground for new generation of cyclists of all ages and abilities."

Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell said:

"British cyclists delivered an exceptional haul of medals in Beijing last year and cycling continues to grow in popularity as more people get out of their cars and on to bikes.

"Today we've witnessed the start of construction of what, with the help of Sir Chris Hoy who helped design the Velodrome, we hope will be the fastest track in the world for London 2012, helping Olympic and Paralympic cyclists better their awe-inspiring performances last summer. But more than that, I am proud that after the Games thousands of people will be able to test their skills and simply enjoy themselves on the road, track, and BMX courses that will be left in legacy, perhaps inspiring our next generation of elite cyclists like Shanaze Reade or Bradley Wiggins."

The 6,000 seat Velodrome will host the Olympic and Paralympic indoor track cycling events in 2012, and be used by elite athletes and the local community after the Games. The legacy Velodrome will include a cafe, bike hire and cycle workshop facilities and the venue design includes a 360 degree concourse level offering fantastic views over the Olympic Park, and out to the London skyline.

The Velodrome is being built on the site of the former West Ham tip. The challenging ground conditions mean that work is now underway to install a complex network of more than 900 piles driven up to 26 metres beneath the ground to form the foundations of the venue.