THE DESIGN for the London Olympics stadium was unveiled today, its architects promising a “special atmosphere” at the bowl-shaped venue come 2012.


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“This is not a stadium that’s going to be screaming from the rooftops that it’s bigger and more spectacular,” said Rob Sheard of architects HOK. “This is a cleverer solution.”

“We’ve ended up with a very tight, very compelling bowl,” Sheard added. “The atmosphere inside this bowl, we think, will be pretty special.”

The 80,000 capacity stadium is estimated to cost nearly UKP500 million. After the games it will morph into a 25,000-seater venue for athletics and possibly for one of London’s football clubs.

Leyton Orient and West Ham have been mentioned in this respect, thought the existence of an athletics track might put clubs off.

Even without a football element, organisers say the stadium will fulfil its “legacy” function, by hosting a variety of community and cultural as well as sporting events.

“No-one can say we’ve compromised on design, comprised on sustainability or comprised on the legacy potential,” said Tessa Jowell, minister for the Olympics.