The ODA has made great strides this month, but there鈥檚 still been a few trips...

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) said work on the aquatics centre and main stadium may now begin two months ahead of schedule 鈥 the former starting next July, the latter brought forward from the middle of next summer to April.

There has been progress on the 拢200m media centre with Carillion emerging as favourite to build it, reportedly edging ahead of only remaining rival Bouygues/Development Securities/Hopkins.

Designs for the Olympic park鈥檚 centrepiece 80,000-seat stadium have been panned by many in the industry. In a poll, 49% of 黑洞社区 magazine鈥檚 readers renamed it the 鈥榲ol-au-vent鈥, while architect Will Alsop rained expletives down on HOK Sport鈥檚 design. ODA chairman John Armitt remained optimistic, however: 鈥榃e had the Sun, Mirror and Mail saying 鈥渢his is great鈥 and that鈥檚 good enough for me.鈥

Balfour Beatty has submitted a 拢250m tender as sole bidder for the aquatics centre 鈥 far greater than the government鈥檚 拢75m price tag. A decision on whether to award the contract is pending.