MORE than £200 million has been earmarked for the showcase landscaping of London's Olympic Park, organisers said today.
Around 110 hectares of parkland, which was once largely contaminated industrial land, is to be transformed into a colourful setting and festival atmosphere for the 2012 Olympics and beyond, using groundbreaking green technology.
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uthority chief executive David Higgins said: "There is no problem with the budget which is over £200 million – it is money that is set aside.
"The money is there and I have no concern about that because we are getting competitive pricing. One of the few good things about the credit crunch is that we are getting competitive pricing on costs."
Designed by LDA Design Hargreaves Associates and inspired by the Victorian and post-war pleasure and festival gardens, visitors to the park during the Games are set to enjoy broad sweeping lawns and footpaths leading down to riverbanks, terraced seating and public spaces which will include big screens to show the sporting action.
Paul Deighton, chief executive of the London Olympic Organising Committee, helped unveil the designs for 2012 which Olympic organisers have described as a "new type of park for the 21st century".
The plans were unveiled in London's Hyde Park which is to host the open water swimming and triathlon.
Mr Deighton said: "Both of these events are big British medal hopes and the setting for where our events take place will be one of the main things about 2012.
"I think that there are very few places which have had the heritage and history that we can claim and I think it will be a very big part of what people can see to help them enjoy the biggest show on earth.
"It is bold and ambitious which we have always promised for 2012.
"I think to have this plan as a reinterpretation of British park heritage is fantastic."
The full article contains 323 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
