The construction of the London 2012 Handball Arena is now complete.

This makes it the third venue on the Olympic Park to reach completion: the first to be finished was the Velodrome; the second, the Olympic Stadium.

As well as handball, the new Handball Arena will also host the fencing part of the modern pentathlon and the goalball competition during the Paralympic Games.

Handball Arena: Sustainability

The Handball Arena was designed and built with sustainability as a priority.

The copper cladding has a high recycled content, while the arena can be lit naturally, through 88 rooftop sun-pipes, achieving annual energy savings of up to 40% and greater illumination than similar-sized conventional lights.

During TV broadcasts or poor weather, the system can be switched off and electrical lighting used instead.

Water usage at the venue is saved by 40% through a rain-harvesting system that feeds into toilets and other systems.

Handball Arena: Legacy

After the Games, capacity in the Handball Arena will be increased to hold up to 7,500 spectators. It’ll become a multi-use venue for the community, athletics and events.

The removable lower seating means a variety of activities can take place inside, from international competitions to community sports such as basketball, handball, badminton, boxing, martial arts, netball, table tennis and volleyball.

“It is wonderful to have another permanent sport facility located in the Park which will provide an opportunity for all of these sports to continue to develop in legacy,” said London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe.

“With the venue completed well in advance of Games-time, we can stage handball and goalball test events later this year under similar conditions to Games-time to ensure we get our planning just right.”

The next venue on the list seems to be the Basketball Arena… Watch this space!

Prime Minister David Cameron was joined by local school children yesterday as he switched on the floodlights at London’s Olympic Stadium for the first time.

“Today we’re shining a light on this stadium and the brilliant work that’s been done on the Olympic Park so far,” said the Prime Minister. “”In 2012 a light will shine on all of our country as billions look on.”

The stadium is lit by 532 lights housed in 14 towers suspended 70 metres above the ground. Spectator seats have also been installed and the venue’s on track to be completed more than a year before the 2012 Games begin.

Earlier in the month, London 2012 released a new batch of aerial photos of the Olympic Park.

Click on the thumbnails above to see our pick of the best ones, including great views of

1. The Olympic Stadium, which is now structurally complete with roof and lighting towers in place. Work is continuing on the field of play and installing the seats
2. The Handball Arena, showing the structure is complete and weather-tight. The unique roof – fitted with natural light-pipes to illuminate the venue – is also finished. The top half of the building is now being clad in 3,000sq m of copper cladding
3. The Basketball Arena showing the venue’s completed cladding, Inside, 12,000 seats are being installed, while the lifts, toilets and external service rooms are still being built
4. The Velodrome, which is now structurally complete and watertight, and the timber track is being installed

Find out more at www.visitlondon.com/2012 and www.london2012.com/olympic-park-aerials-show-progress

London 2012‘s Velodrome is on course to be the first completed stadium in the Olympic Park after its roof was guided into place this week.

The Pringle-shaped roof, made from more than 1,000 timber panels, has now been weather-proofed allowing work on the inside of the arena to gather pace.

The venue, which will host the cycling events at the London 2012 Games, is expected to be completed early next year.

Sebastian Coe, the London 2012 chairman, told the Press Association: “We hope that the Velodrome’s striking design will be host to some outstanding British cycling performances, as well as leaving a first rate sporting legacy after the Games.”

We think it looks great, what do you think?

Hosting the London 2012 Olympics will make almost two thirds of 16 to 24-year-olds feel proud to be “part of Britain” according to the Harris Interactive poll commissioned by the Metro.

Watching the world’s best athletes in London will help encourage young people to compete in sport according to 65% of those polled. While more than half believe London 2012 will leave a long-term legacy of sports facilities.

“This shows a real opportunity for bodies like Sport England to use the games to help build a legacy with more people taking part in sport,” said Harris Interactive research director Neil Russell.

Are you proud that our wonderful city is hosting the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games? We certainly are.