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Olympic Park ‘the best possible advertisement for UK plc�

Jeremy Hunt hails ‘world class� Olympic build as UK business gears up for 2012.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Speaking at a reception to celebrate the Olympic construction project, Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said the Olympic Park will stand as “the best possible advertisement for UK plc� in 2012.

All five major sports venues on the Park have now been completed on time and on budget, with the last - Zaha Hadid’s distinctive - being completed in July.

“For me, the is the first world class performance of 2012,� said Mr Hunt.

“It gives us the best possible backdrop for next summer’s Games, and I’m proud to say it has ‘Made in Britain� stamped all over it.�

UK built

The project saw 98% of contracts being fulfilled by UK companies, and featured:

  • The biggest demolition programme in Europe - more than 220 buildings were knocked down and reused in one of the biggest recycling operations
  • The most extensive tunnelling operation since the Channel Tunnel
  • The most ambitious soil clean-up operation ever seen in the UK
  • The largest urban park created in Europe for 150 yearss

In September, Prime Minister David Cameron announced the campaign to promote the UK as a tourism and business destination ahead of the Games. Together with a unique investment conference, a programme of business summits and an online ‘British Business Club� this is expected to generate a £1 billion boost for British business in the years ahead.

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Published 24 October 2011