Chunnel engineer hired for 2012

Higgins, who ran the group which built the Olympic Village for the 2000 Sydney Games, will take charge of building venues and facilities for 2012.

The appointment comes in the week members of the International Olympic Committee will visit London.

It is the first visit of officials since the capital was awarded the Games in Singapore in July.

The two-day orientation seminar will give the IOC a chance to help London in its foundation planning.

And London 2012 organising committee chairman Sebastian Coe believes the appointment, following on from that of Jack Lemley as the ODA chairman on Friday, will send a powerful message to the IOC.

Delivering the Games is a unique opportunity for the entire country David Higgins

"David has a pre-eminent track record in construction projects," Lord Coe told Five Live.

"He is the right man for the job and together with Jack we have a formidable team.

"We went to Singapore saying that if we were lucky enough to win the chance to host the Games we would be able to start work the following day.

"We did that but to have the chief executive and chairman of the ODA in place before Christmas shows the IOC that we really have moved ahead very quickly."

Higgins, currently chief executive of English Partnerships, will take up his role in the New Year.

"Delivering the Games is a unique opportunity for the entire country," he said.

"My job is all about delivering these facilities for the world's greatest sporting event in 2012 and assuring a lasting legacy for east London, the rest of the capital and the whole of the UK."