Hammer blow for Spurs in 2012 stadium race

Governing body UK Athletics announced that they planned to share a 60,000-seat stadium with the Hammers/Newham council consortium after the 2012 Games.

The endorsement makes West Ham clear favourites in the bidding process and can be seen as a reward for the club's commitment to retaining a running track around the pitch after the London Olympics.

With no other bidders thought to be in the race, West Ham/Newham could now face a clear run-in ahead of next spring's deadline to complete a deal.

Keeping the athletics facility after the Games remains a top priority to the Government, Mayor of London Boris Johnson and his legacy chief Baroness Ford, who will decide the future of the £540million venue.

Today's announcement by UK Athletics, who had previously remained impartial, comes just a week after architects of the Spurs/AEG bid said they intended to tear up the running track if they won.

UKA chairman Ed Warner said: "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.

"It was clear from the start that only a partnership approach would bring to life the vision [London 2012 chief] Sebastian Coe had when he committed to an athletics legacy in 2005.

"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."

Although UKA will not decide the stadium future, their choice of West Ham as "preferred bidder"
will be influential.

UKA's co-operation is essential to delivering on Coe's vision of creating a world-class athletics facility for the capital.

UKA's ambition is to stage 15 days of track-and-field each summer at the stadium, ranging from club and schools finals to European and World championships.

Last week Warner described as an "insult" the Spurs/AEG proposal to drop the running track, which would probably have meant marginalising the sport to a much smaller venue elsewhere in the Olympic Park.

UKA have joined forces with the Upton Park club as they seek to safeguard a bid against Beijing to stage the World Athletics Championships in the Olympic stadium in 2015.

They hope to persuade City Hall and Government to contribute towards the £25m cost of hosting the nine-day event, which will be awarded by world governing body, the IAAF, on 20 November. Karren Brady, the vice-chairman of West Ham, said: "We want to create a home of sport, featuring football and athletics.

"UKA have been great in helping us develop that vision and, together with Newham Council, we are
ideally placed to make our dream a reality."