As Event reported,
The Mar-Key Group, which provided the temporary structures in Africa Village, has announced that it was forced to restrict access to its equipment at the village pending payment of outstanding funds.
Mar-Key Group Chairman David Tabb said: "Significant promised funds have not been forthcoming and the company has no option but to use legal force as required to ensure the correct outcome for the company and its employees. We all hope that this action will help to guarantee funds and that The Village can reopen promptly."
The site was free to the public and was showcasing African culture during the Olympics. It was set to be open to the public until the end of the Games on 12 August.
The Royal Parks, which runs Kensington Gardens, said: "We understand that there are a number of contractual issues between the event organisers at Africa Village and their suppliers. At present the event is closed and we are not certain at this stage whether it will reopen."
The Concerto Group is providing bar service and drinks to the village and also assisted with venue finding. Sam Gill, marketing director of Concerto, is on site at the village working on the situation.
A message posted on Africa Village's website today read: "Africa Village temporarily closed until further notice."
Lead agency Pixcom said the closure was for "technical reasons" and has given no further details. It confirmed the closure was not related to the disappearance of seven Cameroonian athletes from the Olympic Village on Tuesday.
Africa Village is organised by the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA), which represents a group of mainly francophone African countries.
The village is divided into Africa Land, an area open to the public with stalls representing different African countries and big screens showing the Olympics, and Africa House, a private hospitality area.
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