Source: Daily_Mail
London 2012 Olympics: Spurs blasted over alleged surveillance
Tottenham have been blasted over claims they ordered the surveillance of all 14 members of the Olympic Park Legacy Board (OPLC) during their unsuccessful battle for the Olympic Stadium.[LNB]OPLC chairman Baroness Ford told the London Assembly the Metropolitan Police were now conducting an investigation into that surveillance.[LNB] New home: West Ham could soon be playing in the Olympic Stadium[LNB]The bitterness of the battle for the ?486million Olympic Stadium was publicly laid bare as Ford, head of the body in charge of securing a viable economic future for the home of the London 2012 Games, said: 'The thing that I have learned in the last 12 months is that there has been all kinds of behaviour.[LNB]'There has been legal challenges and people have stood behind it anonymously - all kinds of things have happened.[LNB]'My board were put under surveillanceby Tottenham Hotspur and the chairman of Tottenham Hotspur felt confident enough to say that in the Sunday Times several months ago thatall 14 members of my board were put under surveillance.[LNB]'The Metropolitan Police are now conducting an investigation into that surveillance. There has been all kinds of behaviour here that I could not have anticipated which, believeme, has not been pleasant in the last 12 months.'[LNB] Rivals: Tottenham were battling West Ham for the stadium[LNB]A deal with West Ham and Newham Council to use the stadium in Stratford, east London, after the 2012 Games collapsed last month amid legal challenges, with the Government announcing that the stadium would remain in public ownership. [LNB]Tottenham had already lost out to West Ham in the race to become the OPLC's first choice to move into the stadium after the Games.[LNB]Legal challenges by Tottenham and Leyton Orient, plus an anonymous complaint to the European Commission, had led to fears that court action could drag on for years while the stadium remained empty.[LNB]A new tender process is being launched by the OPLC and the showpiece venue, complete with an athleticstrack, will now remain in public ownership and be rented out to an anchor tenant.[LNB]Baroness Ford told the London Assembly's Economy, Culture and Sport (ECS) Committee: 'I am expecting the unexpected because that is what the last 12 months has taught me.[LNB]'Our job now is to narrow as far as we possibly can the scope now for legitimate legal challenge in this next process - that is all that we can do. If people want then to be vexatious, frivolous and vindictive or whatever they want - they will dothat.'[LNB] Ready to move in: West Ham want to head to the 2012 stadium[LNB]ECS committee chairman Dee Doocey said: 'I personally find it appalling, and I am sure I speak for the rest of the committee, at the very idea of your board being put under surveillance is reprehensible.[LNB]'It almost beggars belief that this thing can happen. The idea that any board can be put under surveillance is absolutely disgraceful.'[LNB]Scotland Yard have confirmed that the investigation into the surveillance claims are 'very much active'.[LNB]A spokesman said: 'We can confirm that West Ham Football Club and the Olympic Park Legacy Company have made allegations to the Metropolitan Police Service in respect of the unlawful obtaining of personal information.[LNB]'These allegations have been assessedand an investigation has now commenced by officers from the Economic and Specialist Crime Command.'[LNB] You'll have to get out when we want Olympics Stadium, athletics chiefs warn West HamLondon bid for 2017 World Athletic Championships may be threatened by Doha wealthGovernment spends ?750,000 of OUR money on 2012 tickets... including ?27k on beach volleyball![LNB]
