London Olympic Stadium completed early

Construction on London's flagship Olympic venue, the the 80000-seat Olympic Stadium has been completed three months ahead of schedule and £ 10 million (US$ 16.2 million) under its budget of £ 496 million (US$ 805 million). Main contractor Sir Robert McAlpine began work on the project in May 2008.

Completion was marked by the laying of the final piece of turf on the infield in a ceremony conducted by IOC Athletes' Commission chairman and former Olympian Frank Fredericks, Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) chairman John Armitt, London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe and 400 m hurdles Olympic medallist Tasha Danvers.

Speaking at the ceremony, ODA chairman John Armitt said, "The Olympic Stadium has been finished on time and under budget. To complete a complicated project such as this in less than three years is testament to the skill and professionalism of the UK construction industry."

The stadium is an ellipse shape, with a long axis of 315 m and a short axis of 256 m. It stands at 60m above the field of play and the perimeter is 860 m long. It contains around 10000 tonnes of steel - the lightest Olympic Stadium to date.

Over 5250 people worked on the project over the past three years with the workforce peaking at 650.

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