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Olympics 2012 stadium may host football
Peter Dominiczak21 Jul 2009
Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell admitted "there is a case" to review the future of the 2012 stadium if a bid to host the football World Cup succeeds.
But she said she still supported plans for the stadium to be converted for use as an athletics venue after 2012.
Labour peer Baroness Ford, chairwoman of the Olympic legacy body, has called for the stadium's use as a football venue to be re-examined, particularly if the 2018 World Cup is to be held in this country.
Ms Jowell acknowledged the move but said the Government had made a commitment to provide a venue for world-class athletics as a legacy of the 2012 Games.
At Commons question time yesterday, shadow Olympics minister Hugh Robertson said both the Rugby Football Union and Rugby Football League had expressed interest in the east London venue, which is set to have its capacity reduced from 80,000 to 25,000 after the Games.
He said: "In her initial public pronouncements, Baroness Ford ... has indicated her desire to re-examine the issue of a football use and both the RFU and the RFL are keen to use the stadium to support their bids."
He asked Ms Jowell: "Given that the last four European Cup finals have been played in dual-use stadiums, are you prepared to re-examine your opposition to such a move?"
The minister told him: "I have discussed this with Baroness Ford. We have not yet won the right to hold the World Cup in 2018. Clearly, if our excellent bid is successful, of course there is a case for re-examination.
"But this is not cost free and the House should understand that plans will proceed in order to make sure that we honour our commitment to the IOC and to athletes across the country in the (Olympic) bid book that we will have, as a legacy for the Games, a 20,000 grand prix-capable athletics stadium."
Lady Ford is "eager to squeeze every last benefit of legacy" from each Olympic venue.
Ms Jowell said: "I support her in that but I want certainty in planning for the legacy of the stadium."
The bid for the 2018 World Cup would be a significant boost to London's economy, its backers claim. Wembley and Arsenal's Emirates stadium would be used to host games.
Reader views (1)
Tessa Jowell has not yet answered my question as to why she is refusing to publish the findings of the KPMG forensic auditors into the allegation that £100 MILLION is missing from the olympic purse. As tax payers are being made pay for this 2012 debacle we have a RIGHT to know if there has been misappropriation of our money or whether there have been irregularities in the accounting practices.
- R.F., Yorks, UK, 21/07/2009 14:52
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