London 'on track' for 2012 Games

Leaders of the London 2012 Olympics say their targets for 2007 have been met and that preparations for the Games are right on schedule.

Demolition work on the five major Olympic sites has been completed and construction work will begin in 2008.

Organising committee (LOCOG) chairman Lord Coe said: "In a project of this scale and complexity, we have to make the most of every day.

"We have done just that this year, making excellent progress."

We will be ready, and we won't disappoint Lord Coe

The Government has set a budget of £9.3bn for construction, transport improvements and regeneration of the area in east London. The actual running of the Games will come from a separate £2bn budget funded through television rights, ticket sales, merchandise and sponsorship.

Lord Coe added: "We have made strong progress in our operational planning and, importantly, are engaging and inspiring people all over the UK to appreciate and value the power and magic of sport.

"We enter 2008 excited about the prospect of Beijing 2008, and of the beginning of our own Olympiad.

"As the eyes of the world turn to London after Beijing, we will be ready, and we won't disappoint."

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), the organisation charged with constructing the venues, announced that demolition on the sites of the biggest venues - the Olympic Stadium, the Aquatics Centre, the Velopark, as well as the Olympic village and the main press centre/international broadcasting centre has been completed.

On the Olympic park site as a whole, more than two-thirds of buildings have been demolished and half the site cleared of debris.

606: DEBATE Are the athletes making the same progress as the venues? OW

ODA chairman John Armit said: "This has been a year of solid progress on the ground in the preparations for the 2012 Games.

"With such a huge project it was essential we got off to a good start. We have done that and are exactly where we planned to be at this stage.

"Big challenges lie ahead but we have put in place strong foundations for the future.

"In 2008, we will change gear as we enter the start of the 'Big Build' phase with construction beginning in earnest in the summer."

The International Olympic Committee has also been pleased with the progress and their co-ordination commission delivered a positive report to the body's executive board.