Work has begun at the 2012 London Olympic Park to transform the site into the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, due to open exactly one year after the 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony.

Yesterday the site was officially handed over to the Mayor of London’s legacy agency and construction workers began to remove the last of the 17,500 seats in Zaha Hadid’s celebrated Aquatics Centre. The BMX arena and colourful wrap around the Olympic Stadium have already been removed and plans are to dismantle the basketball and water polo arenas next.

Director of Infrastructure at the development corporation Colin Naish commented: “I’m delighted that we’re able to mark the next phase in the Olympic Legacy and our journey to create London’s most dynamic urban district. Taking control of the park today is another major milestone.

"In only eight months’ time it will begin to reopen. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will be home to some of the best sporting and entertainment venues in the world.”