Olympic swimming venue roof in place

Unlike traditional buildings the steel roof, weighing over 3,000 tonnes had to be constructed at ground level and then placed onto three concrete supports.

The complex will house two 50metre swimming pools, a diving pool and dry diving area for community and elite use.

The building, due for completion in mid-2011, will form the gateway to the Olympic Park.

Olympic Delivery Authority chief executive David Higgins said: "The sweeping roof will form the 'Gateway to the Games' and is now a fixture on the skyline alongside the Olympic Stadium.

"The Aquatics Centre willbe a new landmark building for east London and will offer elite and community swimming and diving facilities in legacy.

"Across the schedule we are on schedule and within budget. However, we are not complacent. Our toughest year is ahead of us as the workforce and activity on site reaches a peak."

Mr Higgins echoed the sentiments of his counterpart on the Games Organising Committee (Locog), Paul Deighton.

The Wharf spoke to him about progress on the 2012 project last week, just after the 1,000 days to go celebrations, and he was excited about the preparations being right on track.

He said: "It's really good. You can feel the palpable air of excitement now as we get into this final 1,000 day stretch. People all round the country are getting really excited about the Games.

"Already there are so many people actually benefiting from it, or being inspired by it, or are involved in delivering the Games. You'll see that building up over the next 1,000 days."

Work on the permanent venues is ahead of schedule and Locog and the ODA are concentrating on the temporary venues, including Wembley Arena, which will host rhythmic gymnastics and badminton instead of a temporary arena next to The O2.

"We're really focused on the temporary venues and doing the planning for those," said Mr Deighton.

"The planning permissions for Woolwich, where we have the shooting, and Greenwich, where we have the equestrian, are just about to get underway. We're looking at all the venues outside the Park as we count down.

"Wembley Arena is a ready built facility, it's one of the reasons we decided to put some sport there, so getting the arena ready is no issue. The things we're acting on are making sure we've got a good transport plan to get the athletes to the arena, as it's a bit further away.

"It'll be a combination of making sure the Olympic route network works and there are facilities close by so athletes there all day have the right facilities right on the doorstep."

Using Wembley has shaved around £40million off the cost, but staying in budget is still a big concern according to Mr Deighton.

He said: "Every day we wake up working out how to do things as efficiently as possible. The main ODA budget in the Park is in good shape. Having a contingency there to help us has been really important to get through the credit crunch.

"Our own budget for the organising committee, which is all privately financed, has been really helped by the success we've had with local sponsorship. We're now up to over £550million out of the £700million target we had, so it's working out really well."

Mr Deighton spoke to The Wharf at a volunteer event in Newham organised by BT, clearing land at the Leyes Road allotments. For Mr Deighton it highlighted the important contribution the 70,000 2012 volunteers will make.

He said: "It's great to see what's happening here because volunteering is a fundamental part of the Games. Seeing it inspiring one of our sponsors, BT, to do it here in a host borough is just great.

"We start the formal recruiting next July, and the volunteers are, of course, the face of the Games. They are absolutely vital.

"It's not people like me anyone remembers, it's the volunteers and their character. They will be the face of Newham, London and the UK."