Bidders wanted to take on Zaha's Aquatic Centre

The body in charge of the post-Olympics redevelopment of the 2012 Park has advertised for an operator for the controversial Zaha Hadid-designed Aquatics Centre.

The Olympic Park Legacy Company has also put out a call for someone to run the 7,500-seat Multi-use arena after the games. The call for expressions of interest come as the company has delayed making a decision on the final legacy use for the Olympic Stadium, with rival bids by Tottenham Hotspurs and West Ham on the table.

Any future operators of the venues will have to manage the post-games fit-out and any adaption for their post-games use. In addition it is looking for someone to run and manage the Olympic Park itself, to be re-named the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park after the games.

Andrew Altman, Chief Executive of the Olympic Park Legacy Company, said the venues would be core to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. He said: “They will be real community assets and we are looking for the right operators who can bring people together and improve health, education and lifelong participation in sport.”

The £268m Aquatics Centre contains two 50m pools and a diving pool, together with permanent seating for 2,500 people which can be extended to 3,500. It is expected to attract up to 800,000 people a year.

The Multi-Use Arena will be the third largest arena in London, providing a range of sporting, entertainment, cultural, community and business events. Some of its 7,500 seats are retractable to extend the field of play. There is also the potential for a health and fitness centre.

Bidders have until March 23 to express an interest, with a final decision expected by January next year.