Source: Daily_Mail
Spurs' Olympic Stadium bid boosted after blast at West Ham's running track plan
Simon Clegg, one of the key figures in securing the 2012 Olympics for London, has come out in opposition to West Ham taking over the Olympic Stadium after the Games. [LNB]Clegg, the former chief executive of the British Olympic Association who now holds the same post at Ipswich Town FC, says it would be 'madness' to have a running track inside a stadium which would be mainly used for football.[LNB] West Ham and Tottenham are bidding to take over the stadium after 2012 with the Hammers planning to keep the track in place while Spurs would demolish the stadium and build a new one in its place - but without a running track. [LNB] Vision: An artist's impression of Spurs' plans - without a running track[LNB]Clegg, the man who first formulated a plan for London to bid for the Games and was honoured with a CBE after the 2012 success, is the first person from an Olympics background to speak out against the track being retained but said he recognises the need for and commitment to a legacy. [LNB]He said: 'It is quite obvious that the only viable model for the stadium is to have a football club as an anchor tenant. [LNB] Under construction: The Olympic Stadium is now taking shape[LNB]Sanderson excluded from Stadium decisionFormer Olympic javelin champion Tessa Sanderson will not be permitted to play any part in deciding the future of the Olympic Stadium.[LNB]Sanderson is a board member of the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) who are deciding between West Ham and Tottenham's bid to take over the stadium after the 2012 Games, but also has a contract with Newham Council which is a partner of the Hammers' bid.[LNB]A statement said: 'It has come to the OPLC's attention that board member Tessa Sanderson has a personal consultancy contract with Newham Council. This had not been disclosed to the company.[LNB]'As a result, Tessa Sanderson has been excluded from all matters relating to the stadium process.[LNB]'Newham Council is in one of the two shortlisted consortia bidding to lease the Olympic Stadium and therefore this represents a conflict of interest.'[LNB]'I am very clear that it is not compatible to have football and track and field athletics in the same stadium in this country. [LNB]'Football fans in this country want to be as close to the action as possible. [LNB]'I articulated this to Sebastian Coe a couple of years ago but theissue has become even more acute for me since I have been involved in aclub. [LNB]'The West Ham option would be a huge challenge and I don't think itwould work. The entire bid was based on the principle of sustainablelegacy and not creating white elephants and only 17 months out from theGames we have still not resolved the thorny issue of future of thestadium. [LNB]'It's madness to suggest we should keep a track just on the basis we may get an athletics world championships or European championships say once every 15 -20 years.'[LNB] Clegg did argue in the 1990s that Wembley Stadium should have a running track in order to be able to be used as a centre-piece of an Olympic bid, but he said that would have been closer to a Stade de France model in Paris where retractable seating covers the track when football is being played. [LNB] No go: Spurs fans protested during Sunday's match at home to Manchester United against the proposed relocation to east London after 2012[LNB]Tottenham's plan is to redevelop Crystal Palace athletics stadium as a track and field legacy but Clegg is not convinced that is the right option either. He added: 'It does seem to me the best solution for the Olympic Stadium would be Tottenham's proposal but on the proviso of a track and field legacy elsewhere in east London rather than Crystal Palace which is in the wrong place and where public transport links are not good. [LNB]'For me the East End must have a sustainable athletics legacy and it would need to be another new site in east London.'[LNB] The Olympic Park Legacy Company has a board meeting on Friday January 28 when it is expected they will decided on their preferred bidder.[LNB] Their recommendation then has to go to be ratified by two Government departments - the department for culture media and sport, and the department of communities and local government - and the London mayor's office. [LNB] Former London Mayor Livingstone blasts Tottenham's Olympic bid Spurs hit by Palace plans to relocate to nearby National Sports CentreLee warns Olympic Stadium will be 'white elephant' if Spurs' are rejectedNo to Stratford! Angry Tottenham fans protest over Olympic Stadium move Des Kelly: Don't let Spurs vandals wreck London 2012 Olympic legacy[LNB] Explore more:People: Simon Clegg, Sebastian Coe Places: Paris, London, France, Olympic Stadium Organisations: British Olympic Association, Newham Council
