THE construction of the first of seven residential blocks of flats in the 2012 Olympic athletes’ village has been completed. A topping-out ceremony was carried out today by the Mayor of the host’ borough of Newham

By Mike Brooke

THE construction of the first of seven residential blocks of flats in the 2012 Olympic athletes' village has been completed.

A topping-out ceremony was carried out today by the Mayor of the 'host' borough of Newham, Sir Robin Wales, along with the Olympics authority's property director Ralph Luck and the London 2012 committee's Paul Deighton.

"The Olympics must bring long-lasting and positive changes to East London," said Sir Robin. "One of my priorities is making sure we benefit from the Olympics Village and parkland once the Games are over."

Work is now underway on cranes lifting cladding into place with panels weighing up to six tonnes.

The village will be turned over to housing for 2,800 East London families as 'a legacy' after the Games. It is made up of 11 residential plots, each with six to eight rectangular buildings around a traditional courtyard.

Earthworks are also under way on what will become an 'all ages' education campus in the village with capacity for 1,800 school pupils and students from three to 19.