UK Athletics backs West Ham Olympic Stadium bid

By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year

October 11 – UK Athletics today threw its support behind West Ham’s bid to take over London’s Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Games because they believe it is the best way to ensuring that the running track remains.

The Premier League club has submitted a joint bid with Newham council to take over the stadium, and have pledged to retain the athletics track in the £537 million ($854 million) facility.

A rival bid has been submitted by Tottenham Hotspur, together with American sports and entertainment giant AEG, but their plans rule out keeping the running track.

Sebastian Coe, the chairman of London 2012, promised to keep athletics as part of the long-term future of the stadium when they were bidding for the Games.

“What has impressed me so much about the joint bid from West Ham and Newham is their clear commitment to the spirit of the Olympic legacy and not just athletics at the elite end, but with the retention of the community track, our future champions and club runners too,” said Ed Warner, the chairman of UK Athletics.

“It was clear from the start that only a partnership approach would bring to life the vision Seb Coe had when he committed to an athletics legacy in 2005 and we believe the collaboration of West Ham, Newham and UKA gives the strongest opportunity for a vibrant sporting legacy that will go well beyond 2012.

“The team at West Ham have also been keen to support our bid to host the World Athletics Championships in 2015 at the stadium, fully understanding that a significant international event will play a major part in realising their ambition of a British sporting hub.”

West Ham United vice-chairman Karren Brady (pictured) said: “This is fantastic news.

“We believe ours is the only bid that can deliver London’s legacy commitment to the International Olympic Committee.

“UKA’s endorsement is a powerful and highly-valued testament of that.

“Our plan is not just to have a new stadium for West Ham but a real sporting centre for London and the rest of the country.

“We want to create a home of sport, featuring two of the greatest sports, football and athletics, side by side where they can grow and flourish together both in terms of spectatorship and participation at every level.

“UKA have been great in helping us develop that vision over the past eight months and, together with Newham Council, we are ideally placed to make our dream a reality.

“We now hope to move on and secure the stadium and enable world-class athletics to continue in east London beyond the Olympic Games - hopefully including the IAAF World Championships in 2015.”

Mayor of Newham Sir Robin Wales said: “We are delighted UKA are backing our bid. It is important we create a vibrant, diverse, well used stadium that brings maximum public benefit, especially for local people.

“That means offering an array of sports all year round and hopefully will include prestigious events like the 2015 World Athletics Championships and the 2018 football World Cup.

“A busy stadium will in turn open up a whole raft of opportunities and benefits for the local community for decades to come and that is the legacy we in Newham and the East End want from the Olympics.”

Last week global entertainment giants Live Nation pledged their support the West Ham-Newham bid.

Others on board include Westfield, HS1 Ltd, University of East London, Essex Cricket, ExCel London and London City Airport.

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