SPANNING AN area of 2.5 sq km, London’s Olympic Park has been built in a former rundown area of London at a present estimated cost of €11.6 billion.

Over 200 buildings had to be demolished to clear the site which spans the boroughs of Newham, Hackney, Waltham Forest, Tower Hamlets and Greenwich.

The centrepiece of the venue is the 80,000-seat Olympic Stadium, the cost for which has risen from an initial €325 million to around €580 million.

In comparison, Beijing’s 91,000-seat Birds Nest stadium cost approximately €315 million for the last Olympics in 2008, while Sydney’s 110,000-capacity stadium cost €300 million. The cost of the 22,500-seat aquatics centre has been revised up from €86 million to €250 million.

Lloyds TSB have predicted that the London Games will generate €11.6 billion in revenue for the British economy. Revenue from the estimated nine million tourists who are expected to attend over the 16 days of competition is calculated at €2.45 billion.

Each athlete staying at the Olympic Village will have 16 sq metres of floor space, while the dining hall will be able to accommodate 5,500 at a time.

After the Games, the Olympic Village will be converted into 3,600 apartments.

Olympic Stadium

The ground will have a capacity of 80,000 during the London Games – 25,000 seats in its permanent lower tier, and a temporary lightweight steel and concrete upper tier holding a further 55,000 spectators that can be removed after the Games. Stadium is linked to surrounding area via five bridges.

Velodrome

6,000 seats, but glass walls will mean people outside will be able to see sporting action taking place inside.

Bastketball Arena

12,000-capacity stadium, it will be deconstructed after the Games to avoid becoming a ‘White Elephant’.

Hockey Centre

Two pitches – one warm-up and the other with spectator seating (stands to be built early in 2012).

Aquatics Centre

Contains a 50-metre pool, a 25-metre diving pool, a 50-metre warm-up pool and a ‘dry’ warm-up area for divers.

ArcelorMittal Orbit

A controversial 115 metre (377ft) sculpture, one thing is for sure – it’ll definitely be eyecatching.

Handball Arena

Clad in 3,000sq metres of recycled copper, handball semi-finals and final will be held in larger Basketball Arena.

Press & International Broadcast Centre

A 24-hour media hub for 20,000 broadcasters, photographers and journalists.

Water Polo Arena

Building will be taken down after the London Games, and possibly relocated elsewhere in Britain.

Athletes’ Village

Contains residential apartments for around 17,000 athletes and officials, as well as shops etc.

Westfield Stratford City Shopping Centre

The largest urban shopping mall in Europe boasts 70 restaurants and bars.