Five shortlisted for Olympic whitewater canoe centre

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has shortlisted five firms to build a whitewater canoeing centre for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Balfour Beatty, Carillion, Edmund Nuttall, Fitzpatrick and Morrison are all bidding to build the canoe centre in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire. The contract includes all land formation, construction of the facility and course, and surrounding landscaping works.

The Broxbourne venue will host the canoe/kayak slalom events during the LondonGames, and will become a sporting and leisure facility for canoeing and whitewater rafting afterwards.

David Higgins, the ODA chief executive, said: “Securing such a strong shortlist of leading contractors is an important step towards delivering first-class facilities for the world's best athletes in 2012 and leaving the lasting legacy of a major leisure attraction for many years to come.”