A predominantly British consortium has won the biggest construction contract for the 2012 Olympics, exactly six years before the first Paralympics event will begin.

The Olympic Delivery Authority announced that the CLM consortium had been selected as its delivery partner, from a shortlist of four.

As delivery partner, the team will support the ODA in project managing the delivery of the construction program for the infrastructure and venues.

However, contracts for the building work will be done separately.

The consortium - comprised of CH2M HILL, Laing O'Rourke and Mace - will help manage the costs of the building program and will only earn profits if it hits agreed performance targets.

ODA chief executive David Higgins said: "The winning team pairs the best of British industry with one of the world's largest engineering firms.

"The three companies in the consortia have, among them, worked on five previous Olympic and Paralympic Summer and Winter Games and are working on two forthcoming ones, and played key roles on successful UK construction projects including the delivery of the huge construction programme for Terminal 5 at Heathrow."

Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell said it was another big step forward on the road to 2012.

"I believe that CLM will be a strong addition to the 2012 team - working with the ODA to ensure that the design of the Olympic Park and the construction of venues and infrastructure goes smoothly and is completed in good time," she said.

"Together they will deliver impressive facilities and a stunning legacy for future generations."