The headquarters of China's state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) will go live in time for the London 2012 Olympics - three years after its opening was delayed by a fire.

Designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, the building known as the "twisted doughnut" was only partially opened in 2008 and was not fully operational for the Beijing games.

The building, in the shape of a 234m bent tube, is situated in the Central Business District and boasts over 400,000 metres of floor space.

The full inauguration was due in 2010, but was put on hold after fireworks marking Chinese New Year sparked a fire in the neighbouring North Tower.

Executives are hoping that by broadcasting the London Olympic Games from the new CCTV building, it will put an end to a sorry chapter in Beijing's ongoing urban renewal saga.

The damaged North Tower is now being renovated and should be ready by 2014.

Twenty-one people were jailed for three and seven years after the fire, including top CCTV executive Xu Wei, who was in charge of construction at the new complex. Other CCTV executives and safety engineers were also jailed.

The cost of the fire was estimated at more than 160m yuan (£16m).

The CCTV building in Beijing is now ready to broadcast the London 2012 Olympics
The CCTV building in Beijing is now ready to broadcast the London 2012 Olympics Reuters
The much-delayed but striking steel, concrete and glass headquarters was designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas
The much-delayed but striking steel, concrete and glass headquarters was designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas Reuters
A huge blaze to the North Tower next to the CCTV building delayed its opening.
A huge blaze to the North Tower next to the CCTV building delayed its opening. Reuters
The CCTV building was initially supposed to be completed by the start of the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
The CCTV building in Beijing. Reuters
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