2012 Olympics update

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has admitted a 1 in 5 chance that it will use more than the original contingency budget to build venues for the 2012 Olympic Games.

In it's annual report, released this week and reported in Building magazine, the body said there was an 80% chance it would be able to complete the programme for £7.1bn, which includes the £6.1bn budget, plus the agreed £968m contingency. If it were to use the extra £1bn the government has set aside to cover 'unforeseen risk' the total cost would hit £8bn.

The news came as ODA chairman John Armitt admitted that the £1bn athletes' village might have to be part-funded by the public. 'Finance for the village is giving us the most concern,' Construction News quoted him as saying. 'Negotiations with the banks are difficult and slow...We are continuing to negotiate with them but if they don't lend us as much as we'd like we will have to go back to central government and seek their support.'

Problems are also facing Acquatics centre builder Balfour Beatty as it emerged that design changes may be forced on the contractor at the last minute.

Contract Journal reported that Olympics officials expect changes to be made to Zaha Hadid's at least up to six months before it is officially signed off for use. The revisions are likely to include temporary seating for up to 18,000 spectators and details of roofing materials.

Finally, a shadow has been cast over the Olympics' claimed strong safety record with the news that an Olympic Park worker has spent the past month in hospital after a site accident.

The injured worker, who was working for a plant subcontractor, is thought to have had the front part of his foot amputated after a concrete barrier fell on him when it was being moved on June 18. Unions have subsequently raised fears over safety standards on the Olympic build programme.