Snowdome proposed as legacy for London 2012 Olympics broadcast and media centre

Hackney residents could in future be able to enjoy something similar to the Ski Dubai snowdome complex

The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) has received a proposal from the Midlands-based company Acer Snowmec to transform the International Broadcast Centre (IBC) into an indoor skiing facility.

During the London 2012 Games, Hackney Wick’s IBC will host around 20,000 media professionals. Over forty plans will be reviewed by the OPLC over the course of the year.

Acer Snowmec’s managing director, Malcolm Clulow has described the ‘Snow in the City’ proposal as “like Ski Dubai, but on steroids”.

The complex will include a hotel, offices, sports clinic and a variety of additional leisure facilities.

“It will be over 2.5 times as big as any other UK centre,” said Mr Clulow. “It will also have full International Ski Federation homologated slopes, a steep snowboard park with the world’s first super-pipe and all the jumps, rails and carved terrain boarders could wish for.”

Meanwhile, Hackney Council continues to maintain its own vision for the future of the site: “The Broadcast and Press Centres offer an unprecedented opportunity to create an employment hub in Hackney Wick, creating thousands of new jobs and contributing significantly to the economic legacy of the Games for East London.

“It has been Hackney Council’s vision for some time to see the site become a creative, digital and media hub. This vision is supported by regional and central government, and our partners at the Olympic organisations. We will continue to work with the OPLC and others to secure this employment legacy for our residents and for East London.

“During the expressions of interest phase for the Broadcast and Press Centres, the Council and OPLC held a joint event bringing together leading figures from media and creative organisations, developers and investors.

“The market testing, into the future uses of the Press and Broadcast Centre site, has generated extensive interest across a wide range of sectors, including creative, media, retail, cultural, construction, education, public, real estate, entertainment and leisure. The OPLC has had 45 expressions of interest and more than 200 organisations take part in the process. The OPLC will now consider the various proposals and continue to engage with businesses as part of the process which could result in them formally going to market in early 2011.”