Gherkin Foster on Shortlist to Design Olympic Stadium

Lord Norman Foster, the architect who designed the new Wembley stadium, will this week be announced as one of the bidders shortlisted to design the Olympic stadium for 2012.

Foster, whose other projects include the "gherkin" skyscraper in the City of London and the Millennium Bridge, is in a consortium with URS, the engineering design company, to design the 80,000-seat stadium.

Sir Robert McAlpine, the construction company that is in a rival consortium with HOK, the architects, is also expected to be shortlisted.

McAlpine and HOK built and designed Arsenal's £357m Emirates stadium in north London.

Despite Foster's formidable reputation, McAlpine and HOK are expected to be favourites for the deal after winning plaudits for the Arsenal contract.