To confirm its status as one of the leading venues in London’s bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, the Dome has been dressed in two large London 2012 banners, which will be seen by members of the International Olympic Committee’s Evaluation Commission during their visit later this month and thousands of passengers that fly in and out of London’s Heathrow and City Airports.
The signage has been commissioned by Anschutz Entertainment Group, one of the major partners of the London bid and the company delivering a 26,000 capacity arena and entertainment district at the Dome by spring 2007. The Dome arena has been confirmed as a venue for gymnastics and basketball, should London succeed.
The two banners, which each read: “London 2012 Candidate City Host Venue”, will be lit up ahead of the Evaluation Commission visit, which runs from 16-19 February. The signage is thought to be the largest known building-wrap on a single structure in Europe (1).
Bid chairman Sebastian Coe said: “We are proud to have Anschutz Entertainment Group as a major partner and believe the arena at the Dome will be an outstanding venue to host gymnastics and basketball events.
“The Dome fits the IOC’s latest thinking of using existing facilities close to the athletes’ village and will also provide a spectacular backdrop for events.”
Image of the Dome with the logos (jpeg) is available on http://www.london2012.com/ or call the Press Office on the numbers below.
To Make Britain proud and back the bid simply visit: http://www.london2012.com/ or text LONDON to 82012.
For further information contact:
London 2012 Press Office on + 44 (0) 20 7093 5100
Anschutz Entertainment Group Press office on +44 (0) 20 7291 6422 or mailtpress@anschutz-entertainment.com
Notes to editors
1. Largest known mesh (building wrap) decoration on one building in Europe and thought to be the second largest in the world. (It is 40% bigger than the Fort Dunlop site on the M6, and, the Selfridges building both of which were just under 6000m²). Source: ICON Display Limited
2. Technically an extremely difficult job to produce and install because it is installed 2.5m above the Dome roof.
3. Material used is Verseidag Indutex GmbH fire rated mesh. Over 13,000m² was used to produce 98 trapezium shaped pieces so that the radii of the curved Millennium Dome were followed. Print production had to be done this way to enable installation to be affixed to massive steel cables travelling between masts protruding through the Dome roof.
4. Finished size = 8100m²
Weight = 2500kgs
T-shaped dragons tails for tying down = 1.3 kilometres
High frequency welding = 3 kilometres
Eyelets = 7500