11 March 2009 | Posted in Infrastructure , Olympics , Top Story | By Michael Long

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) for the London 2012 Olympic Games has finally awarded the construction contract for the competition's White Water Canoe Centre, which will cost almost double the original estimate. More than US$41 million will be invested in the venue, a short distance outside London in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire. The contract has been awarded to Morrison Construction. The original cost-estimate for the 20-hectare site was US$21 million, with the East England Development Agency, Sport England, and the Lea Valley Regional Park Authority all contributing several million dollars.

The centre will host the canoe slalom events during the Games. Great Britain won three medals in canoeing at the Beijing Olympics last year, and the event has been highlighted as a major target for improvement. As well as its hosting of the Games and other elite events, the venue will become a major sporting and leisure facility for the region, both before and after the Olympics. The course will be the only newly built Olympic venue to be open to the public before the Games.

"Securing a leading contractor for Broxbourne is an important step towards delivering first-class facilities for the world's best athletes in 2012 and leaving the lasting legacy of a major leisure attraction for many years to come," said ODA Chairman John Armitt. "We're on track to start construction work in the summer and the workshops now underway in local schools will help us get important safety messages out to the local community before building work begins."

Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London 2012 Organising Committee, said: "This is an important stage in the delivery of a facility that will provide a world class venue for Games time and an excellent facility for elite athlete and community usage after the Games, living up to our promise of leaving a lasting legacy for sport. The constructors must now develop a challenging Olympic course and develop a community facility which will provide a new experience for beginners. I look forward to seeing the plans for Broxbourne take shape."