Coe backs West Ham’s bid to retain 2012 Olympics stadium
By ANIMonday, January 24, 2011
LONDON - London 2012 chief Sebastian Coe has said that Britain’s sporting reputation will be trashed if Tottenham is allowed to bulldoze the Olympic Stadium.
Tottenham is vying with fellow Premier League club West Ham United to take over the 500 million pound stadium after the Olympic Games.
West Ham plans to maintain an athletics legacy whereas Tottenham is not in favour of it.
The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) is evaluating both bids and is expected to make its recommendation on Friday, after which the Government and mayor of London will have the final say on the future of the site.
Coe would vote in favour of West Ham’s bid if he were a member of the Olympic Park Legacy Company, which decides on Friday about the successful bid.
Coe, who pledged an athletics legacy in the bid six years ago, said: “The bid was very clear.”
“I don’t recall talking about bulldozing a publicly-funded facility and inspiring a generation of Tottenham season ticket-holders,” The Sun quoted him, as saying.
But Spurs chairman Daniel Levy said: “Let’s deal with fact rather than emotion. Surely it’s a far better legacy for London as a whole if you have a world-class stadium for multi-use within the Olympic Park that is full throughout the year and a dedicated athletics venue in South London.” (ANI)
