London / Luxembourg, 31 March 2010 - The Mayor of London Boris Johnson and Lakshmi Mittal, Chairman and CEO of ArcelorMittal, today unveiled the artist and design chosen to create a spectacular new visitor attraction in the Olympic Park.
The unveiling marks ArcelorMittal becoming a tier two sponsor of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, to support the infrastructure and success of the Games. With operations in 60 countries and over 250,000 employees around the world, ArcelorMittal is perfectly positioned to become a sponsor of the world's greatest international sporting event.
Speaking at today's unveiling of The ArcelorMittal Orbit at London's City Hall, Lakshmi Mittal, in the presence of Mayor Boris Johnson and Anish Kapoor, revealed the design chosen to act as an iconic and permanent symbol of the 2012 games. Moreover, it will embody both the artistic and functional versatility of steel as a construction material.
Lakshmi Mittal commented: "The Olympic Games are one of the few truly iconic global events. I was immediately excited by the prospect of ArcelorMittal becoming involved because ArcelorMittal is a global company with operations in more than 60 countries. And as someone who lives in this great city, I remember the great excitement felt when it was announced that London had been selected to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We set out to create a transformational piece of art that will be an iconic symbol for the Olympics and also a new landmark that will endure long after the Games themselves. Everyone at ArcelorMittal is delighted with the outcome of the ArcelorMittal Orbit. London will have a bold, beautiful and magnificent sculpture that also showcases the great versatility of steel."
ArcelorMittal, led by Chairman and CEO Lakshmi Mittal, will fund £16 million of the £19.1 million project, with the outstanding £3.1 million provided by the London Development Agency. As such, the sculpture not only represents a significant cultural investment - the largest single artwork ever commissioned for any Olympiad - but will also make a significant financial contribution to the long-term regeneration of East London.
The ArcelorMittal Orbit, the largest artistic commission in the world, will harness state-of-the-art engineering and architectural techniques. Constructed with steel provided by ArcelorMittal, the sculpture will consist of a continuous looping lattice of tubular steel and offer unparalleled view of the entire Olympic Park and London's skyline from a special viewing platform.
