April 6 - The first great plunge at the £300 million London 2012 Aquatics Centre has taken place when more than 10 million litres of water was used to test three pools.


Water was poured into the two 50-metre concrete swimming pools and the dive pool before being sealed and lined with 180,000 tiles.

Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) chief executive David Higgins described the testing as a "major milestone" in the aquatics build.

He said: "The Aquatics Centre is on track for completion in mid-2011 and the sweeping roof that will form the gateway to the Games is now a fixture in the skyline alongside the Olympic Stadium.

"The Olympic Park 'big build' is on track and within budget as we move through our toughest year, with the workforce and activity on site reaching its peak."

Lining of the 3,000 tonne and 160-metre long wave-shaped steel roof has begun, while cladding of the curving timber ceiling is to start this month.


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