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IOC to check on London 2012 progress

The International Olympic Committee's monitoring team will today begin a three-day visit to London to check on progress for the 2012 Games.

During the visit the Co-ordination Commission will tour Olympic sites, receive briefings of progress over the last year and meet the main London 2012 project leaders.

One area of potential concern is the Olympic Village, where work is due to start next month, but a contract with constructors has yet to be finalised. The Olympic Delivery Authority insists plans are on track, but admits that the "challenging" global economic climate has made agreeing a final deal with Australian firm, Lend Lease, more difficult.

An ODA spokesman said: "The Olympic Village site is now clear. Planning applications for the first blocks of the flats have now been submitted and Lend Lease are due to start piling next month. We expect to have financial arrangements in place before the main build later this year. The changing economic situation remains a challenge but we remain on-programme."

Interim agreements are expected to allow the work to start in June.