The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is a legal and commercial entity as of today with Royal Assent for The London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Bill to become an Act of Parliament.
The public sector body will be responsible for building the venues and infrastructure for the 2012 Games.
Further ODA responsibilities include managing the Government’s interest in the Olympic project and protecting public money going into it.
The legislation grants the ODA planning powers and the power to purchase and own land.
It also creates the role of Director of Olympic Transport, and grants the Mayor of London an Olympic-specific powers to enable him to fulfil his obligations under the Host City Contract.
Olympics minister Tessa Jowell said: “This Act will allow the Olympic Delivery Authority to come into existence, as we planned, in the first week of April.
“We have a strong team at the ODA, headed by Jack Lemley and David Higgins, and they can now press on with the vital task of preparing the ground for 2012.”
References: EGi News 30/03/06
