"The London 2012 Olympics aquatics centre is likely to cost nearly three times as much as the £75m originally estimated, BBC London has learned.

A scaled-down version of the original wave-shaped building, which will be the gateway to the Olympic park in east London, could cost £215m.

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell sent the architect "back to the drawing board" in 2006 because of spiralling costs.

The venue is now due for completion in 2011, two years later than planned."

(Via BBC NEWS | England | London | Olympic pool costs set to triple: .)

and ...

Building Design has a lot to say about the all glass centre in a culturally mixed community and how the panicky politicians worried about headlines are trying to do world class architecture on a shoestring to keep the daily papers happy.

(Via Bellyflop: Zaha Hadid's reworked Aquatic Centre disappoints - images - Building Design: .)

| olympic news | 31 January 2008; 10:58:34 AM |# | | |