Just 18 months Left for the games to begin and London 2012 organizers unveil '2012 Olympic Velodrome', making it the first brand new venue for the Olympic Games. Completed by Hopkins Architects the Construction work for Velodrome started in March 2009. The roof is designed to reflect the geometry of the cycling track, using a lightweight double curving cable net framework. The 2,500 sections of steelwork rises 12 meters in height from the shallowest to the highest part of the structure. Approximately 48,000 cubic meters of material was excavated to create the bowl for the velodrome. The track design and installation was overseen by Ron Webb, former Australian cycling champion and renowned track designer. The 360 degree concourse, with full height windows, provides a plentiful source of natural light and gives spectators a panoramic view across the rest of the Olympic Park.

The exterior of the velodrome is also wooden, the Western Red Cedar cladding an evocative echo of the paler wooden bowl around which the athlete’s cycle. A team of specialist carpenters laid the 56km surface timber over a period of eight weeks. The porous timber exterior cladding facilitates natural cross ventilation while rainwater is collected for reuse in the building. The sustainable source Siberian pine was fixed into place with more than 300,000 nails.
Approximately 48,000 cubic metres of material was excavated to create the bowl for the velodrome. The track design and installation was overseen by Ron Webb, former Australian cycling champion and renowned track designer. Total cost of construction of the Olympic Velodrome was £90m ($150 million).

Dave Brailsford, the performance director of British Cycling comments,'the London 2012 Velodrome is the fastest velodrome ever build and I think that suits our team. The architects have been very clever in taking all the best bits from the best Velodromes around the world and they have come up with a super venue.'
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