After active public discussion at the end of 2005 that Zaha Hadid's project would eventually be twice as expensive as planned (about £ 150 million instead of £ 75 million), the architect was asked to reduce future construction costs at all costs. Finally, the low-cost project was introduced to the public. The main difference is the size of the overlaps. Instead of 3250 sq. m they will have an area of only 1300 sq. m - that is, a little more than one third of the original plan. At the same time, the number of seats will remain the same: 15,000 for the main pool, and 5,000 for the pool with a diving platform. It is in this facility that all competitions of the 2012 Olympics in water sports, except for water polo, will be held. After the end of the Games, the complex will be refurbished for 3,500 spectators and will be used as a city pool and for hosting European championships.
The cost of the revised version has not yet been disclosed, but, according to experts, it should be about 100 million pounds. The complex history of the development of this project for the future Olympics is especially indicative, since this is the first of the planned sports facilities, which passed the stage of detailed design (construction is scheduled to start in mid-2008, and the end - in the summer of 2011). If a similar fate awaits all the original architectural projects for the 2012 Olympic Games, then the opportunities for the London authorities to show their city as the capital of modern architecture will be significantly reduced. This has already been brought to the attention of the public by Richard Rogers, who holds posts in various state commissions and councils of the architectural and construction sector.
