Olympic Stadium

Key facts

Sport: Athletics, Paralympic Athletics
Capacity: 80,000 (55,000 of which can be removed)
Location: In the south of the Olympic Park
New or existing?: New permanent venue

The Olympic Stadium will have a capacity of 80,000 during the Games: 25,000 permanent seats in its permanent lower tier and a lightweight steel and concrete upper tier holding a further 55,000 spectators. The upper tier can be dismantled after the Games.

During the Games

The Olympic Stadium will be located in the south of the Olympic Park on an ‘island’ site, surrounded by waterways on three sides. Spectators will reach the venue via five bridges that link the site to the surrounding area.

Facilities for athletes within the Stadium include changing rooms, medical support facilities and an 80m warm-up track. Spectator services, refreshments and merchandise outlets will be located outside the venue on a ‘podium’ that will surround the Stadium, rather than being located within the Stadium itself.

Getting to the Olympic Stadium during the Games.

After the Games

After the Games, the Stadium can be scaled back to 25,000 seats as required. It will be a venue for athletics and host other sporting, cultural and community events.

Getting ready for 2012

2008

• Construction begins three months ahead of schedule

2011

• Construction due to be completed

2011

• Test Events

2012

• More Test Events
• London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.