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Boris Johnson's cost-cutting proposal to use Wembley Arena for the London Olympics has run into trouble after international sports chiefs complained the venue was too remote.
Badminton and rhythmic gymnastics bosses have objected because of the 90-minute journey from the athletes' village in Stratford.
Travel times have been raised as an issue by both the Badminton World Federation and the International Gymnastics Federation, who are being asked to accept Wembley as an alternative to a proposed £25million purpose-built venue in Greenwich as Olympics chiefs seek to cut £20million from the venues bill.
The resistance is bound to frustrate the Mayor who, in his campaign to minimise temporary venues with no legacy benefits, says a Wembley Arena venue is non-negotiable.
The BWF said it has no objections to the venue, which will host the 2011 badminton world championships. But such is the concern about road journeys that it may have to reluctantly consider putting athletes up in Wembley hotels.
Thomas Lund, chief operating officer of the Badminton World Federation, said: "The main issue is not so much the venue itself but the location. "We are unhappy with the location and it would not be our first choice."
Andre Gueisbuhler, secretary general of the International Gymnastics Federation, said after taking the journey from east London this week the planned switch was "an unhappy situation".
Reader views (8)
'..international sports chiefs complained the venue was too remote.
Badminton and rhythmic gymnastics bosses have objected because of the 90-minute journey from the athletes' village in Stratford.'
Well, since these international liggers will be staying in Mayfair at our expense ( HOW can I become a rhythmic gymnastics boss? How, please?),perhaps they should look at an atlas.
Perhaps Wembley would value the business of providing digs for these people, anyway.
- Mdj E10, london uk
Its high time to seriously reasses the situatuion. When contemplating the future of any project, a struggling business or failing relationship there comes a time when you do the basics: a 'Good/Pro' list and 'Bad/Con list' is prepared and amount headings on each compared: its surely time to do the same for the 2012 Olympics.
The current mess is largely thanks to a government trying to deflect attention from its multitude of inadequacies, many now also coming home to roost (failing schools, health care/ policing and overseas policies affecting UK's standing and our armed forces; etc...)
Bereft of charisma within, the government used athletes to promote the 2012 Olympic bid, even dragging out a past middle distance runner and MP to head up the flag waving for this excercise in mass deception. Hence it looked little beyond Track and Field's needs.Now the razzamatazz that won the bid is replaced with reality: London must actually prepare to stage the games! And Oh how the wheels are falling off! Whether its the ferargo of Woolwich where £40 Million plus is to be wasted on a temporary shooting venue with its iconic backdrop obscured by safety netting, Greenwich Park being badly mutilated and along with it a risk of similar to equestrian competitors, and now the dissatisfaction with badminton and gymnastics venue.
The Pro/Con list may reveal its time for a reality check and ask: Do we really want or need these games and could the money to be squandered be better spent? R.A.
- Richard Atkins, Worcester. England
Boring Boring Boris… Stop talking and start acting if you want people to start listening… You say you are truly committed to trying to save British taxpayer money and at the same time ensure a lasting legacy for sport and the community, then Boris Be ‘The Man’… Simply by moving the shooting to Dartford, badminton and rhythmic gymnastics to Barking would save taxpayers tens of millions… In return London 2012 act responsibly, you get you want, plus value for money, a last legacy for sport, regeneration and the community, so how about it Boris why don’t we all get together for a good old fashioned session of banging our shoes on the table for Londoners…
- Mjm, Dartford, UK
Barking is the answer, build a proper facility in Barking as part of the regeneration, it is close to the Olympic Village and will have legacy benefits as the venue will remain after the Games.
- Neal Underwood, Harrow
If athletes don't wish to travel from the olympic village to Wembley then make them find their own accommodation (and pay for it themselves) in hotels near the statium. Sixty percent of the UK population knew that the cost of staging this debacle was deliberately underestimated in their devious attempts to win the bid - and now tax payers are faced with costs which have spiralled out of control. I strongly support Boris Johnson in his bid to cut costs - in fact I would applaud him if he would grasp the nettle and cancel the whole debacle.
- R.F.York, Yorks, UK
I suspect that travel times of 90 minutes or more will be the norm regardless of where the runners, jumpers and throwers stay.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one
Too remote? Is this the London Olympics, or the Stratford East Bubble Olympics?
- Bloke, Lambeth
There's no reason all the athletes have to stay in the same olympic village, I'm sure they can find somewhere for them to stay in Wembley. Problem solved.
- D.W., London
