March 2 - Construction work is underway on the BMX Track for the London 2012 Games, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) announced today.


It follows the construction completion of the Velodrome which was unveiled last week.

The BMX Track is located next to the Velodrome in the north of the Olympic Park and will have 6,000 temporary seats to host the event in 2012, where Britain's Shanaze Reade is expected to be among the favourites for the gold medal.

After the Games, the temporary seating will be removed and the BMX Track reconfigured to make it suitable for riders of all ages and abilities.

It will become a key part of the legacy VeloPark where the Velodrome and BMX Track will be joined by a road cycle circuit and mountain bike course to combine facilities across all disciplines in one cycling hub.

The 400-metre BMX Track will include a series of jumps, bumps and tightly banked corners and the venue covers a total site area of 160 metres by 90 metres, slightly larger than a football pitch.

The first stage of construction work involves 14,000m3 of soil, enough to fill three Olympic swimming pools, placed on site.

The soil, which has all been cleaned and reused from elsewhere on the Olympic Park site, will be used to create a series of levels up to four metres high upon which the final track surface will be formed by a BMX track designer.

Construction contractor ISG have now started work on site, with the soil to form the course being brought to site and work underway on the course tunnel and drainage systems.

The construction of the BMX Track is due for completion in summer 2011 in time for the track to be used for a sports test event in August.

ODA Chairman John Armitt said: "With the construction of the Velodrome now completed, the start of work on the BMX Track is the next piece in the jigsaw of delivering a world-class cycling legacy from the Games.

"The BMX Track will be a first-class venue for the world’s best riders in 2012 and after the Games, the reconfigured course will be a great facility for people of all ages and abilities to try out this exciting and growing sport."


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 Sir Chris Hoy leads praise as Velodrome is first Olympic Park venue finished