The six month fit-out programme was started by four times Olympic gold medallist Matthew Pinsent who helped move in the first of 16,000 beds to be installed.

Work to get the Village ready for the Games includes:

•    Installing 9,000 wardrobes and 11.000 sofas
•    Equipping each apartment with a television and wi-fi services
•    Constructing the temporary 24-hour main dining facility with 5,000 seats
•    Building the Olympic Village Plaza – the main ‘social hub’ of the Village with shops and services for athletes and guests including a café, general store, bank, beauty & grooming salon, internet lounge, London 2012 shop and entertainment centre
•    Constructing the Welcome Centre, the initial arrival point for athletes and officials to be officially accredited for the London 2012 Games
•    Installing exercise equipment to create a state-of-the art athlete gym in Chobham Academy

ODA Chairman John Armitt said: “The Olympic Village has been built by companies from every part of the UK, working together to ensure it was completed on time and overcoming the challenges posed by the credit crunch and economic downturn.

“The apartments are ready but our work is not quite done. We will be finishing the landscaping as winter turns into spring, and then returning after the Games to complete the transformation to create new homes for Londoners.”