Work begins on Games media centre

The media centre can accommodate up to 20,000 journalists

Building work has begun on the International Broadcast Centre in the Olympic Park in east London which will provide for 20,000 broadcasters.

The steel and glass structure including open office spaces will cover 900,000 sq ft area (83,612 sqm), the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) said.

The centre will have studios, catering facilities, and a High Street complete with banks and a post office.

Journalists will travel on a shuttle coach to the four-storey centre.

'Brown roof'

The media centre will feature a combination of permanent and temporary structures which can be modified after the Games to provide space for numerous businesses.

The main building will be big enough to shelter five jumbo jets and its construction will use 4,500 tonnes of steel.

After the 2012 Games the roof of the building will be turned into a 'brown roof' made of gravel and moss to enhance its environmental standards.

The ODA hopes the media centre will be ready by the summer of 2011.

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Organisers say work on the venue has started on target