Finishing line in sight as Olympic marathon aims to beat the clock

Part of the supporting structure for the roof has been made from 2,500 tonnes of steel that has been recycled from old gas pipelines.

The iconic wave-shaped roof on the Aquatics Centre is one and a half times bigger than the Wembley football pitch.

It has taken more than 10 miles of steel cabling – twice the height of Mount Everest – to construct the roof of the velodrome. The architects are hoping the design will allow it to be the fastest cycling track in the world.

During the event, the International Broadcast Centre will be home to about 20,000 photographers, broadcasters and journalists whose coverage of the Games will be watched by an estimated four billion people worldwide.

Covering 500 acres in east London, the Olympic Park is roughly the size of Alton Towers. Transport around the capital has been a major issue for the organisers. However, they insist that during the Games, it will only take seven minutes to get there from the centre of London with special trains laid on to transport spectators.

After the Games, the area will be turned into an urban park. The water and canals around it will be cleaned and made wider to encourage wildlife.