| Stadionul Olimpic din Londra este gata |
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| International |
| Duminică, 06 Mai 2012 07:29 |
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Stadionul Olimpic din Londra este elementul central al Jocurilor Olimpice de vară din 2012 și al Jocurilor Paralimpice de vară din 2012.
Ceremonia de deschidere a Jocurilor Olimpice de la Londra va avea loc la 27 iulie 2012, iar cea de închidere la 12 august.
Stadionul se află în Lane Marshgate în Stratford în Lower Lea Valley și are o capacitate de aproximativ 80.000 de locuri ceea ce îl face temporar al treilea cel mai mare stadion din Marea Britanie în spatele Wembley și Stadionul Twickenham. Pregătirea terenului pentru stadion a început la mijlocul anului 2007, iar construcția a început oficial pe 22 mai 2008, deși lucrările de foraj pentru fundație au început cu patru săptămâni înainte de data respectivă. Construcția s-a terminat pe 29 martie 2011.
The stadium design was launched on 7 November 2007. The architect, Populous, is an architectural firm specializing in the design of sports facilities and convention centres, as well as planning of major special events. Construction took four years from 2007 to 2011. As a "unique 80,000 seat stadium, it will be the centrepiece for the 2012 Games, hosting the opening and closing ceremonies and the athletics events, converting down to a 60,000 seat permanent stadium after the Games. As of June 2009, the stadium's track and field arena has been excavated out of the soft clay found on the site, around which permanent seating for 25,000 has been assembled, using concrete "rakers". The natural slope of the land is incorporated into the design, with warm-up and changing areas being dug into a semi basement position at the lower end. A demountable lightweight steel and concrete upper tier has been built up from this “bowl” to accommodate a further 55,000 spectators, and is nearing completion.[5] Exterior wrapPlastic, or perhaps an environmentally sustainable fabric, such as hemp, was initially expected to be wrapped around the stadium exterior and imprinted with a mural type design. The wrap would have been 20 metres (66 ft) high and would have encircled the 900-metre (1,000 yd) circumference of the stadium. Both hemp and the continuous wrapping were ruled out. The latest designs submitted for approval to the Olympic Delivery Authority suggest that rather than a continuous strip, the wrap will consist of 2.5 m wide fabric panels, twisted at 90 degree angles to allow entry to the stadium at the bottom of the structure, and held in place with tensioned cables.[6] It has since been reported in the Guardian newspaper that a member of the stadium design team, Rod Sheard, would prefer the wrap to take the form of a continuous video screen, although no costing for this has been given.[7] On 4 August 2011 it was announced that Dow Chemical Company would fund a wrap for the stadium, in return for being able to advertise on the wrap until 26 June 2012, at which point all advertising and logos would be removed. The wrap will be made from polyester and polyethylene, be printed using UV curable links and would encircle the stadium. Installation of the wrap began on 14th April 2012.[8] Spectator services
There will also be no food outlets inside the 80,000-seat arena, which reduces the need for kitchens and higher levels of fire protection associated with cooking. Instead, architects have planned party concourses outside the stadium inspired by the successful fan zones at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where spectators gathered to eat and drink and watch the action on big screens. It has also been suggested that toilet areas known as "pods" could be created from recycled shipping containers with the water and sewage management self contained within, reducing the need for costly plumbing and facilitating the dismantling of the structure once in legacy mode. RoofTo allow for fast on site assembly, compression truss and roof column connections were bolted; this will also enable easy disassembling of the roof structure after the closing ceremonies.[9] The cable supported roof structure will cover approximately two thirds of the stadium's seating.[10] A six month study conducted by Olympic organisers found that while no roof at all could invalidate any potential world records set at the stadium, a partial roof, reduced the chance of winds that can invalidate sprint and jump records from 50% to 5%.[citation needed] The roof will be made from a phthalate-free polyvinyl chloride (PVC) fabric to keep costs down. Stadium Island
The stadium site is on former industrial land between the Old River Lea (which rejoins the Navigation below Old Ford Lock), the City Mill River, and the Old Pudding Mill River; parts of the Bow Back Rivers. Another branch of this system, St Thomas' Creek, 200 metres to the south, completes an "island" surrounded by water. Two hundred metres to the east is the Waterworks River; on the eastern bank will be the Aquatics Centre. This "island" site for the stadium lies at the southern end of the Olympic Park. The existing waterways will be modified to surround the stadium, and access will be via several footbridges positioned around the building's perimeter. LOCOG publications and media reports have begun to refer to the site as Stadium Island due to the location and design—a name that may potentially define the site in years to come. Development processOn 13 October 2006, LOCOG confirmed that it had selected the Team Stadium consortium (consisting of Sir Robert McAlpine; HOK Sport + Venue + Event, now known as Populous; and Buro Happold) to start negotiations with, in hope to find the contractor fulfilling the eventual design and build contract of the new Olympic Stadium.[11] The ODA received international and national interest to prequalify for the design and construction tender but Team Stadium was the only consortium to meet all prequalification criteria. The consortium was also the team who delivered the locally acclaimed new Emirates Stadium, home of Arsenal F.C. Team Stadium members have extensive experience in the design and build of sports venues, including the Olympic Stadium for the 2000 Sydney Games. On 11 October 2011 Britain's Olympics minister Hugh Robertson confirmed the collapse of the Olympic Park Legacy Company's agreement with West Ham to take over the stadium after the games. The OPLC announced that negotiations with West Ham, unveiled as the preferred stadium bidder in February 2011, had ended because of growing concerns over delays caused by the ongoing legal dispute with rival club Tottenham Hotspur. West Ham had not signed any contracts, allowing the OPLC to abandon talks with the club. The stadium, which cost an estimated $760 million, will now remain in public ownership and leased out to an anchor tenant following a new tender process.[12] ReactionThe stadium design received a mixed response from the media, with reviews ranging from "magnificent" to a "bowl of blancmange".[13] The Olympic Stadium design was promoted as example of "sustainable development", but some architecture critics have questioned both its aesthetic value and suitability as a national icon - especially when compared to Beijing National Stadium. For example, Ellis Woodman (Building Design's architecture critic) said of the design: "The principle of it being dismountable is most welcome... it demonstrates an obvious interest in establishing an economy of means and as such is the antithesis of the 2008 Olympic stadium in Beijing. But while that's an achievement, it's not an architectural achievement. In design terms what we're looking at is pretty underwhelming." He went on to criticise the procurement and design processes – stating of the latter that it should have been subject to an architectural competition.[14] This view was echoed by Tom Dyckhoff, The Times's architecture critic, who described the design as "tragically underwhelming" and commented that the "architecture of the 2008 and 2012 Olympics will, in years to come, be seen by historians as a "cunning indicator of the decline of the West and the rise of the East".[15] Amanda Baillieu (Building Design magazine) challenges the designer's claims that the stadium is environmentally sustainable and good value for money. Instead it is asserted that the reality will be the opposite. In particular, she claims that:
The cost of £537 million compared to cost of 1908 Olympics Stadium £60,000 (£5,629,148.93 adjusted with up to 2010 inflation rate).[17]  Radiation concernsIn June 2010 it was reported during the development of the stadium site that it contained potentially harmful amounts of radioactive materials buried decades ago when the area was a landfill site. Documents obtained under a Freedom of Information request revealed that the radioactive waste from thorium and radium were buried in a disposal cell approximately 250 metres to the north of the stadium. Officials insisted there was no risk to Olympic athletes or spectators during the event, but that further development of the site after the Olympics as part of the legacy programme could expose the waste.[18] Structural Art QualificationsThe design of the Olympic Stadium is subject to critique by not only engineers and architects, but also by the public. Conditions set in place to consider something structural art are the completion and aesthetically pleasing implementation of factors that fulfill the following requirements. A structure must meet engineering's three S's: social, symbolic, scientific. These correspond to the three E's in structural engineering: economics, elegance, and efficiency. Scientific Due to the necessity of making the stadium useful for the Olympics while keeping its ability for longevity the stadium is made up of different tiers; during the games the stadium will be able to hold 80,000 spectators. The base tier, which will be permanent and allow for 25,000 seats, is a sunken elliptical bowl that is made up of low-carbon-dioxide concrete; this contains 40% less embodied carbon than conventional concrete.[19] The foundation of the base level is 5,000 piles reaching up to 20 meters deep. From there, there is a mixture of driven cast in situ piles, continuous flight auger piles, and vibro concrete columns. The second tire, which allows for the addition 55,000 seats, is 315 meters long, 256 meters wide, and 60 meters high.[9] The stadium is built using nearly four times less steel, approximately 10,700 tons, in the structure than that of the Olympic Stadium in Beijing for the 2008 Olympics. In addition to the minimal use of steel, which makes it 75% lighter, the stadium also uses high yield large diameter pipes which were surplus on completion of North Sea Gas pipeline projects, recycled granite, and all building products were transported using trains and barges.[20] Current Track RecordsAfter the charity challenge Gold Challenge [21] event in the Olympic Stadium, there are now a series of track records held in the Olympic Stadium. 10,000 metres in 45.34 minutes held by Crispin Comonte, 5,000 metres in 24.00 minutes held by Dan Thompson, 1,500 metres in 5.06 minutes held by James Radford, 400 metres in 68 seconds held by James Radford. And all of the above women's events records are held by Rianna Stanwell. Post-OlympicsOn 12 November 2010, it was announced that two bids had been shortlisted for the stadium post-Olympics. They are a joint bid from Tottenham Hotspur F.C. and Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), with the second bid from West Ham United F.C. and Newham Council.[22] The former bid would maintain the 80,000 capacity, while the latter would reduce it to 60,000. Bid 1: AEG & Tottenham Hotspur 
These joint bidders had originally expressed individual interest in the venue but submitted a joint bid to take over. AEG is the company that redeveloped the loss making Millennium Dome exhibition venue in South East London into the profitable music venue The O2. When the formal bidding process opened, little was known of AEG's plans for the Olympic Stadium, but they were described as among the front-runners of interested parties, along with West Ham.[23] On 26 July 2010, it was rumoured that Tottenham might be interested in taking over the Olympic Stadium post-Games. The club have plans to build a new stadium adjacent to their current home, but the capacity could not reach that of the Olympic Stadium, making a move attractive to the club. Bid 2: West Ham United & Newham Council Following the 2010 takeover by David Gold and David Sullivan, the new owners of West Ham expressed their desire to make the Olympic Stadium as the club's new home. With Boris Johnson expressing his desire for a football team to take over the stadium after the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics this seemed the most likely option.[24] At the opening of the formal bid process, West Ham were considered favourites once they reversed from their initial opposition to keeping the running track as well as planning a £100m conversion to create a 60,000 capacity venue, which would also host international football, international athletics, as well as Essex County Cricket Club, international Twenty20 cricket matches, NFL matches and Live Nation events.[25] 
Originally expressed interest: The legacy plan for the stadium originally involved its conversion into a 25,000 to 30,000 seat athletics stadium with a sports training, science and medicine centre following the 2012 Paralympics. Media reports however have suggested that several potential tenants were interested in moving to the Olympic Stadium after the Games, among them the England and Wales Cricket Board, along with several London cricket, football and rugby clubs:
Despite several rounds of negotiations with potential tenants, LOCOG has elected to adhere to its bid commitment to provide a legacy for athletics at the stadium, with capacity reduced to a more financially-viable 25,000. However, the newly-elected Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has stated that all parties need to look carefully at the legacy plans for the stadium and has not ruled out use by either a professional football or rugby team. This in mind, the contract for building the stadium clearly stated that it must stay as a usable athletics track available for competition and training at any time. After receiving and pre-screening over 100 expressions of interest, the formal bidding process of selecting the post-Olympics user of the stadium opened on 18 August 2010. It was to run until 30 September, after which the OPLC would draw up a shortlist, with a view to selecting a tenant by the end of the financial year, by 31 March. The winning bidder is required to support the regeneration of the area, and retain the stadium as a "distinctive physical symbol".[23][35] West Ham UnitedOn 11 February 2011 the Olympic Park Legacy Committee selected West Ham United & Newham Council as the preferred bidder to take over the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Games. The decision in favour of West Ham's bid was unanimous.[36] However Leyton Orient have complained that the stadium is too close to their ground and would breach FA rules. They claim that West Ham's plans could force them into bankruptcy.[37] On 3 March 2011 West Ham United's proposed move to the Olympic Stadium was approved by the British government and London mayor Boris Johnson.[38] As of January 2012, West Ham was once again interested in bidding for the Stadium after leaving negotiations for the stadium.[39] By March 2012 West Ham was one of the four bidders for the Stadium. A decision will be made by the Olympic Park Legacy Company in May 2012.[40] Judicial review and independent investigationTottenham Hotspur F.C. and Leyton Orient applied for a judicial review to overturn the OPLC's decision; however, this appeal was rejected in June 2011[41] Tottenham Hotspur, then appealed the decision not to have a review on 29 June 2011.[42] On 23 August, the day before they were due in court, it looked like the football club would drop all claims for a review when they staged 'intense negotiations' with the office of the Mayor of London, and looked set to be offered funding for their own stadium.[43] However the next day Tottenham did attend court despite being close to striking a deal about their own stadium, thus allowing West Ham to move into the Olympic stadium by 2014. Tottenham and Leyton Orient won a review of the decision, being told that they had an arguable case The review was scheduled to take place on 18 October 2011. Even if Tottenham had abandoned the review, due to being granted a new stadium, Orient were expected to continue, with its owner Barry Hearn calling the decision to grant a review "a great day for the little man."[45] It had been reported that if the judicial review had ordered a re-run of the bidding process then a clause would have been be inserted stipulating that the winning bidder must retain a running track within the stadium itself The Olympic Legacy Company announced on 5 July 2011 that an independent review into the awarding of the Olympic Park Stadium to West Ham United was to be carried out following the discovery on 30 June 2011 that an employee, Dionne Knight had been engaged by West Ham to carry out consultancy work relating to the Olympic Stadium without permission of the OPLC. Ms Knight had already declared to the OPLC that she was in a personal relationship with a director of West Ham, and was suspended whilst a possible conflict of interest was investigated.[47] On 22 August 2011, the independent investigation ruled that the process was not compromised and thus the bid process will not be reopened.[48] On 11 October 2011, the deal to sell the stadium to West Ham collapsed.[49] West Ham immediately announced plans to become tenants of the stadium.[50] On 18 October Leyton Orient submitted an application to the Football League for permission for a move to the stadium. Chairman Barry Hearn said, "We are asking for a 25,000-seat stadium and we want to see if we can get around the athletics track. It has to stay, we know that. But can we build up, if not down, and see if it’s possible to get it covered while we play?".[51] 2017 World Athletics ChampionshipsLondon bid to host the 2015 World Athletics Championships using its Olympic Stadium. It went up against Beijing's Olympic Stadium and the Polish city of Chorzow. However the stadium had to pull out of the running of hosting the championships due to the uncertainty of the stadium, due to the timing of the announcement of who would operate the stadium after the Olympics, thus gifting Beijing the championships.[52] With the issues resolved over the stadium's future, London again used the stadium to bid for the 2017 World Athletics Championships.[53] The bid was made official in August with Lord Coe personally submitting the bid a few weeks later at the 2011 World Athletic Championships in Daegu. London's Mayor Boris Johnson and the British government have backed the bid.[54] Following Tottenham winning the right to a review on 18 October 2011, just three weeks before the IAAF vote on the 2017 championships host, Lord Coe, on 25 August 2011 stated that the bid would be unaffected by the legal battle. UK Athletics chairman Ed Warner added, "Whatever the outcome of that process there is going to be a track in that stadium and that's what matters and that's the commitment we're making to the IAAF."[45] On 11 November 2011, the IAAF officially awarded the 2017 World Championships to London. |
