International Olympic chiefs have praised how construction of the Athletes’ Village at Stratford is progressing after a tour of the first completed homes during a visit to 2012 venues last week.

The Olympic Village, which lies adjacent to the Olympic Park, will deliver a post-Games legacy of 2,818 new homes for east London, including 1,379 “high-quality affordable homes” surrounded by new parks, open space and education and healthcare centres in one of the best-connected parts of the capital.

International Olympic Committee co-ordination commission chairman Denis Oswald said: “The Olympic Village is at the very heart of the Games experience for thousands of athletes. It represents their home away from home and the place where they will prepare to achieve their Olympic dreams.

“It is therefore encouraging to see that excellent progress has been made in constructing this accommodation, especially knowing that this village will become a vibrant new community in legacy.

Olympic Delivery Authorty chief executive Dennis Hone said: “The IOC’s praise for the Olympic Village is extremely encouraging and with our first residential plot now completed, we are seeing beds for athletes and new homes for Londoners taking shape.

‘Incredible’

London Olympics organising committee chairman Lord Coe said the Village was “looking incredible”, adding: “London is going to be a special place to be in the summer of 2012 and athletes staying here will be at the heart of it all in the Athletes’ Village which will be a vibrant community for those competing.

“And after the Games, that sense of community will remain as a new neighbourhood is created in east London.”

Investors are being sought by the ODA to acquire its multimillion pound interests in the homes project. There are six further plots with potential for 2,000 more homes, together with shopfloor space.