Six out of eight permanent Olympic venues have had their future secured after the Olympic Park Legacy Company appointed operators for the Aquatics Centre, Multi-Use Arena and ArcelorMittal Orbit.

Employment, training and sporting opportunities for Londoners are at the heart of the contracts, along with ensuring that the venues are both affordable and accessible, and fit into the wider offer of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) will operate the Aquatics Centre and the Multi-Use Arena, and Balfour Beatty WorkPlace will run the ArcelorMittal Orbit and manage the maintenance of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

The contracts include:

254 full time jobs

86 apprenticeship places every year

That on average, 75% of jobs from the two contracts will go to local people in the Host Boroughs

A strong focus on small and medium sized enterprises benefitting from supply chain opportunities

The price of swimming at the Aquatics Centre or hiring a court at the Arena will be the same as the average local pool or sports centre.


By combining two venues in one contract, the Legacy Company has also ensured that the Aquatics Centre will not require any additional public subsidy as the Arena will cross subsidise it. Further revenue will be generated from naming rights for both venues which will be on offer at a later date.

With the appointments of anchor tenants and events for the Stadium and the Press and Broadcast Centre this summer, London is on course to secure the future use of every permanent venue before the Games have even started – a first for any Olympic City.

Baroness Margaret Ford, Chair of the Olympic Park Legacy Company, said: "GLL and Balfour Beatty WorkPlace will play a key part in the creating a Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park that is a thriving visitor destination with world class sporting venues that are both affordable and accessible to the public.

"The combination of Balfour Beatty WorkPlace's commitment to jobs and apprenticeships and GLL's innovative proposals for sports programming will create a host of economic and sporting opportunities.

"The appointments are just another example of how London's legacy plans are further ahead than any previous host Olympic City. By working closely with sporting bodies and our local communities now, we can ensure that these venues will have a full and compelling programme of activities for when they reopen after the Games."

Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: "This is a ringing endorsement of our 2012 legacy and regeneration plans for east London and an amazing achievement by the Legacy Company. To find operators to take over these world class facilities so far ahead of the Games and to secure their commitment to spread jobs and opportunities throughout the local communities is the icing on the 2012 cake.

"We can now start the run in to a fantastic year of celebration with huge pride and optimism that London will stage a great Games, delivering lasting sustainable benefits long after the athletes have departed."

(CD/GK)