A total of 14 lighting towers, each weighing 34 tonnes and designed with integrated walkways, access, power supplies and cabling and lighting, were lifted by a 650-tonne crane over a three week period.

At 53 metres above ground level, the 80,000-capacity Olympic Stadium is three metres taller than Nelson’s Column.
 
The cable net roof will now start to be covered with a fabric material, providing the correct conditions for athletes on the field of play and covering two-thirds of spectators.
 
John Armitt, the chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), said: "The successful lift of the lighting towers takes the Olympic Stadium to its full height and makes it even more visible across East London's skyline.
 
"We still have big challenges over the coming year but hitting this important milestone ensures we remain on track to complete construction a year before the London 2012 Games begin."
 
Sebastian Coe, the chairman of London 2012, said: “The Olympic Stadium will be the centrepiece of the London 2012 Games, and it is exciting to see it taking shape so quickly.

"There will be fantastic sport taking place there and the towers will light up all the action.

"We look forward to welcoming the world’s athletes to the Stadium in 2012."


 
The lighting towers, which will illuminate the action on the field of play and are necessary for high definition footage, are located high above the Stadium roof to ensure optimum lighting angles which avoid dazzling spectators, photographers and competitors.
 
Each tower can house up to 44 floodlights and a team of electricians installed and tested each light on the ground before the towers were lifted 60 metres on to the inner tension ring of the roof structure.  

Over the coming months, the power supply and control cables will be installed and a series of tests will be carried out to ensure that every individual bulb is position correctly.

The Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell said: "The Olympic Stadium continues to evolve at a staggering pace with the addition of the fourteen lighting towers completing its silhouette.

"The light emitted will ensure that not a moment of action is missed by spectators and TV audiences."

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