2012 Olympic Park reaches half-way

The UK's Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has released new images showing progress made at the half way point between London winning the bid for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Opening Ceremony.

The pictures highlight progress so far on the site in East London, including cleaning and clearing of the majority of the contaminated 2.5 km2 Olympic Park site, construction starting early on the Olympic Stadium and Aquatics Centre, work starting on the Olympic Village and infrastructure, the removal of electricity pylons and completion of construction on the first London 2012 venue - Weymouth and Portland sailing facilities - finished on time and on budget.

London 2012 - timeline from winning the bid to halfway point:

• July 2005 - London Awarded the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games
• July 2005 - First dedicated Olympic Lottery game, "Go For Gold" launched to raise funds for the Games
• March 2006 - London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Bill receives royal assent
• March 2006 - Then Chancellor Gordon Brown announces record public sector investment of UK£ 500 million (€ 556 million) for elite sport
• April 2006 - Creation of Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), the body with responsibility for the construction of the venues and infrastructure for London 2012
• April 2006 - start of the first construction project, the tunnelling needed to put the overhead powerlines underground
• March 2007 - London 2012 budget published
• April 2007 - Lloyds TSB unveiled as first London 2012 domestic sponsor. To date eleven sponsors have been secured - Adidas, BA, BT, EDF Energy, Lloyds TSB, BP, Nortel, Deloitte Cadbury, Adecco and BCG - providing well over UK£ 450 million (€ 500 million)
• June 2007 - London 2012 Brand launched
• July 2007 - ODA take control of the Olympic Park. To date, the vast majority of the site has been cleaned and cleared with 200 buildings demolished and 500000 m3 of soil cleaned of contamination such as petrol, oil, tar and heavy metals such as arsenic and lead. More than 90% of demolition materials have been recycled or reused
• October 2007 - Planning permission secured for the Olympic Park - one of the biggest planning applications in European history
• March 2008 - Pre-Games Training Camp Guide launched, with over 700 venues and facilities throughout the UK selected as possible Training Camps for 2012
• May 2008 -Construction begins on Olympic Stadium ahead of schedule
• June 2008 - Launch of UK£ 140 million (€ 156 million) free swimming initiative to boost sport and fitness; and Legacy Action Plan to ensure a lasting sporting legacy from London 2012
• June 2008 - Construction begins on Olympic Village on schedule
• July 2008 - Construction begins on Aquatics Centre ahead of schedule
• November 2008 - Sailing facilities at Weymouth and Portland become first venue to be completed
• November 2008 - money raised from dedicated lottery games reaches UK£ 375 million (€ 417 million), halfway to target of UK£ 750 million (€ 834 million)
• December 2008 - first signs of the regeneration of the area with the removal of the overhead electricity pylons that dominate the site, the UK£ 250 million (€ million) project is completed on time and to budget.