The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has announced that construction work on the 2012 Handball Arena has started two months ahead of schedule at the Olympic Park in East London.

Buckingham Group Contracting has been appointed to construct the venue, which will host qualifying games for the handball competition during the London 2012 Olympics, as well as the modern pentathlon fencing and goalball during the Paralympics. After the Games, the Handball Arena will be transformed into a 2,743sq m (29,525sq ft) multi-sports venue with retractable seating for 6,000 spectators, while catering for a range of sports including five-a-side football, basketball, badminton and judo.

Plans for the venue, which were approved by the ODA's planning committee in February this year, were drawn up by Make Architects with PTW and Arup, while Populous will work alongside Buckingham Group Contracting on the detailed design and construction stage. The start of construction on the Handball Arena also means that work is now underway on all of the permanent venues that are to be used during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Sailing facilities at Weymouth and Portland in Dorset have already been completed.

ODA chair John Armitt said: "The "big build" is on track and the permanent venues that will host a fantastic festival in 2012 and provide a sporting legacy for elite athletes and communities are taking shape. "The vibrant Handball Arena will provide a great experience for competitors and spectators during the Games and offer a new sustainable and flexible facility for local people to enjoy a wide range of sports in legacy."

Jules Pipe, mayor of Hackney, added: "The new multi-sports venue in Hackney is a great opportunity to offer local residents access to world-class facilities to take part in a wide range of sports, as part of the legacy of the 2012 Games." Image: ODA