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The demolition was of a disused sports hall on the Eton Manor complex in the north of what will be the Olympic Park, the Olympic Delivery Authority said in a statement.

A new sports centre will be built on the site which will host tennis and archery during the Paralympic Games and be a training area during the Olympics.

Eton Manor has strong Olympic ties. Part of the running track at used for the 1948 London Games was transferred there and is buried beneath the site. The first athletics meeting in Britain after World War Two was also held there.

The sports clubs moved out of the area more than 25 years ago while the sports hall closed in 2001.

Sebastian Coe, London 2012 chairman, said: "Today we begin our site demolition by knocking down an old derelict building, and ultimately replacing it with state of the art sports facilities for Londoners to use and enjoy for generations to come."