Scunthorpe Telegraph reported that Scunthorpe steel has helped put the finishing touches to one of the 2012 Olympic Games' most prestigious venues.

The stingray shaped roof at the aquatics centre was finally lifted into place this week and was widely regarded as one of the trickiest engineering jobs of the whole Olympic building program.

Mr John Armitt chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority said that "It is an incredible piece of architecture, but difficult to build."

The 3,000 tonne roof, made using steel made at Corus in Scunthorpe, is 160 meters long and up to 90 meters wide in parts and rests on just three concrete supports. It has been designed to stretch, twist and contract in response to the effects of snow, wind and changing temperatures.

Mr John Nicholson project director of 2012 Aquatic Centre said that the aim of the Zaha Hadid design has been to create a signature landmark to this southern end of the Olympic Park in Stratford, east London, where around 70% of spectators are expected to arrive.

He added that "Of course the focus has been on the roof, it has been an extremely challenging structure. Everybody had been building up to this point for a long time. Lifting the roof in place has been a mammoth operation which began in March so its completion has been technically challenging and a significant milestone."

(Sourced from www.thisisscunthorpe.co.uk)