London 2012 venues 'ahead of schedule', says IOC

(GETTY IMAGES)

A leading International Olympic Committee official praised London's preparations after visiting the velodrome that is on course to become the first new venue completed for the 2012 Games.

Denis Oswald, who heads the IOC's coordination commission for London, inspected the arena as work was finished on the timber track.

"Every visit to the Olympic Park provides us with yet another impressive sign of the progress that is being made here and today's visit is no exception," Oswald said.

Organisers say the 6,000-seat, £94m venue will be completed early next year. Overall, judged Oswald, London is "ahead of time and this is very satisfactory in comparison to previous [Games]."