PEOPLE BEHIND THE GAME : ODA

OLYMPIC DELIVERY AUTHORITY

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is the public body responsible for developing and building the new venues and infrastructure for the Games and their use after 2012.

The ODA has its headquarters in Canary Wharf, together with the London 2012 Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).

It is led by John Armitt (Chairman) and David Higgins (Chief Executive).

One of the key responsibilities of the ODA is building the Olympic Park, where much of the action in 2012 will take place.

The ODA's work is underpinned by six priority themes: design and accessibility, employment and skills, equality and inclusion, health, safety and security, sustainability, and legacy.

A delivery partner has been appointed to work with the ODA to project manage the venues and infrastructure programme for the Games.

The ODA is also responsible for:

• Building new permanent venues 
• Building arenas that will be relocated after the Games: Water Polo, Hockey, Basketball Arena, Paralympic Tennis and Archery, Greenwich Arena and the indoor Shooting hall 
• Permanent works to existing sports venues, like Eton Dorney and Weymouth and Portland 
• Planning and delivery on both transport infrastructure and services to support the 2012 Games projects
• Converting the Olympic Park for long-term use after the Games 
• Making sure the project sets new standards for sustainable development. 

The ODA is planning Games-time and long-term use together to make sure the area will be regenerated, leaving housing, schools and health facilities for the local community after 2012 alongside world class sports facilities.

The ODA was established by the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Act, which received Royal Assent in March 2006. The Act was passed to ensure the necessary planning and preparation for the Games can take place. It allows the ODA to:

• Buy, sell and hold land
• Make arrangements for building works and develop transport and other infrastructure
• Develop a Transport Plan for the Games, with which other agencies must cooperate, and make orders regulating traffic on the Olympic Road Network
• Be the local planning authority for the Olympic Park area.

As a public body, the ODA is accountable to Government, the GLA and other stakeholders for its work.