LONDON, Oct 1: London’s Olympic Park received the official go-ahead Monday, clearing the way for construction of the main venue complex for the 2012 Summer Games.

Planning permission to build on the 202-hectare site in the suburb of Stratford was given by the Government Office for London and the Greater London Authority.Two planning applications were submitted in February outlining plans for new sports venues, highways, bridges, river works, utilities and open space in the Olympic Park and their post-games reconfiguration.

“Receiving planning permission is a huge step forward,” Olympic Delivery Authority chief executive David Higgins said. “The recognition of the regeneration value of our plans gives us continued momentum as we continue work to create a world-class Olympic Park for games and legacy.”

The ODA is the body charged with developing and building the venues and infrastructure for the Olympics.

Construction is scheduled to start next year. The Olympic Park will be home to the Olympic stadium, aquatics centre, velodrome, fencing, field hockey, handball and basketball arenas.

The athletes’ village and main press and broadcast centres will also be built adjacent to the Olympic Park. The London organisers expect 180,000 spectators to enter the Olympic Park every day during the games, which will run from July 27 to Aug 12, 2012.—AP