The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is beginning a visit to London on Tuesday for a progress update on the venues for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in the midst of a recession.

The two-day visit by the IOC co-ordination commission is the first since Britain went into recession , and the fourth since the London was awarded the Games.

The delegation will see the "Big Five" Olympic venues, including the stadium and velodrome, which are being built.

The Aquatics Centre, Olympic Village and Press Centre will also be inspected.

Olympic Delivery Authority chairman John Armitt said: "It is clearly visible how much progress has been made since the IOC visited last year."

At the time of the IOC's last visit, there was little construction work to inspect, but the Olympic Stadium is starting to take shape with eight sections of the roof in place.

Meanwhile the foundations for the velodrome are also finished and building work is well underway at the three other key venues.

"The Olympic Stadium has changed the east London skyline, the Aquatics Centre roof is starting to take shape and the first residential blocks for the Olympic Village are out of the ground," said Armitt.

London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe said: "We are going to take them round the Olympic Park, that is 500 acres."

"Seeking the Olympic Stadium and other venues on the Olympic Park taking shape is really exciting," Coe said. "These are would-class facilities which will leave a lasting legacy for elite athletes and the community."

(Xinhua News Agency April 21, 2009)