Olympics updates are falling like javelins this morning. So, to mix metaphors and Olympic sports, let's rifle through them with a few bullet points.
- Construction of the Olympic Park is now 83% complete. They missed a trick here. This would have made a smashing bar chart of progress for the side of the View Tube.
- The 7,000-seater handball arena is now complete. As well as handball, it'll also host goalball and modern pentathlon.
- The basketball venue is one slam dunk away from completion.
- Contrary to most of the stadia, the Aquatics Centre is running behind schedule. Heating problems mean that the Zaha Hadid structure won't be ready until the end of July...two months late.
- The athletes' village is also a little tardy. The two towers are about 10 weeks behind time, and will now be finished in November.
- On the financial front, the government have transferred £55 million to games organisers to pay for venue rental (at places like Lord's and Wembley stadium). A further £12.5 million is entrusted with the Mayor of London to pay for PR activities and 'beautify the area around the South Bank' (isn't that normally called 'the Thames'?).
- The overall estimated cost of delivering the games has dropped by £35 million.
Much of the basis of these press reports comes from a statement by Hugh Robertson MP, which can be read here.
