OLYMPIC athletes will be going for gold in safety, thanks to work by a North East firm.
Darlington-based Nationwide Lightning Protection & Steeplejack Services, has won the contract to earth the six miles of electric fencing around the Olympic stadium in London.
Director Sam Spence said: “I was over the moon when we were approached and asked to go and work on the stadium.
“It’s an honour to be involved in such an important event, and nice to know we have had something to do with it.”
“When I first saw the stadium I just couldn’t take in the size of it: it is gigantic. It is amazing to think we have been working there and watched it develop.”
Nationwide has been working on the Olympic project for about a year, taking a team to London on a regular basis and even working through the night to meet deadlines.
They have also had the task of making the Temple Mills Lane Footbridge bridge safe, which is going to be used by thousands of pedestrians on their way to the athletes’ village.
Spence said: “Without earthing protection, the fence and the bridge could be a real danger to the public.
“It’s good for our team who have been working on this to know that we have had a big part in making it a safe place to be.”
