London unveils plans for Olympic challenge
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The showpiece of the London Bid for the 2012 Olympics, an 80,000-seat stadium in east London, was unveiled yesterday.
The showpiece of the London Bid for the 2012 Olympics, an 80,000-seat stadium in east London, was unveiled yesterday.
The futuristic arena would stage athletics and the opening and closing ceremonies, should the capital win the right to stage the Games. However, unlike the City of Manchester Stadium, which was used for the Commonwealth Games and then passed on to the footballers of Manchester City, the Olympic stadium would be a dismountable affair, downsized to become the home of British athletics.
Pre-fabricated sections of upper-tier seating would be removed and the roof lowered, leaving a 30,000-seat arena. The roof sections are said to echo the flexed muscles of top-level athletes, and can close at the whim of the British weather.
The £300m project is the focus of the Bid, plans for which include on a 500-acre site a velodrome, multi-sport halls, aquatic and hockey centres, and an Olympic village to accommodate 18,000 competitors and officials.
The Bid will be studied by the International Olympic Association in a week's time, along with those of the other short-listed cities - Paris, Madrid, Moscow and New York. The French are favourites to stage the Games, with London, who last hosted the world's premier sports event in 1948, a close second.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments