We are still about nine months away the start of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but that didn't stop London organizers from unveiling the stadium for the 2012 Olympics.

The $1 billion stadium will seat 80,000 people and will be used for the opening closing ceremonies as well as track and field events. Even more, it will be surrounded by water on three sides. Construction begins in April and should be completed in 3 years.

Food and drink stands will be located in separate "pods" just outside the main structure. The Olympic flame might not be attached to the stadium itself, but placed just north of the venue, design chief Rod Sheard said.

The stadium will have a roof covering about two thirds of the seating areas. Construction will begin in April and finish by the summer of 2011.

"The stadium will stand for everything we talked about in the bid: it will be inspiring, innovative and sustainable," organizing committee chairman Sebastian Coe said.

Sheard said the London stadium was designed around track and field to ensure its long-term legacy.

"Athletics are usually the guys who don't end up with the venue at the end of the games," he said.

For the 2004 Athens Olympics, the existing Spiros Louis stadium was refurbished for the games. The 71,000-seat venue has retained a running track and hosts international soccer games.

The Sydney stadium was built for the Olympics and held 110,000 in 2000. A reconfiguration altered the capacity to 83,500 in 2002 and removed the running track. It hosts cricket, rugby union, rugby league, soccer and Australian Rules football games.