Tottenham's London 2012 stadium plans horrify Sally Gunnell

OLYMPIC queen Sally Gunnell says she would be “horrified” if ­Tottenham took a wrecking ball to the London 2012 stadium.

Hurdles legend Gunnell was among the signatories – including Daley Thompson, Dame Kelly Holmes and Lynn Davies – on an open letter to the Olympic Park Legacy Company demanding that the stadium should keep its athletics track.

Last week the OPLC deferred a decision on the stadium’s future as a bitter tug-of-war over its use beyond 2012 intensified.

West Ham want to leave Upton Park, move into the Olympic stadium and retain the track, but Tottenham propose to abandon White Hart Lane and demolish the arena before building a new 60,000-seater ground from scratch.

And on the day organisers begin interviews for the 70,000-strong army of volunteers at London 2012, Gunnell, 44, cranked up the campaign against Spurs’ plan to ignore any running track.

Gunnell, who struck gold for Britain in ­Barcelona 19 years ago, said: “I’m wholeheartedly behind the principle of keeping the track, whether that’s in partnership with a football club or not.

“The whole idea was to build the ultimate athletics venue, with the potential to host everything from schools to grand prix events, European and world ­championships beyond the 2012 Games.

“At the time we won the bid, there was no talk of football being involved in the legacy.

“If West Ham move in and keep the track, that’s fine – but I’m absolutely horrified at the thought of Tottenham being allowed to flatten the site within a few months of London hosting the Olympics.

“I’m very passionate about athletics, and there is no way it should be bulldozed to make way for football – what a waste of public money.

“I grew up on the outskirts of east London and I know how desperate we are for tracks here.

“We are crying out for new ­facilities, and I cannot ­comprehend the logic of building that stadium just to take it down again.”

Gunnell’s attack echoed London 2012 chief Lord Sebastian Coe’s warning that British sport’s ­international reputation would be “trashed” if Tottenham were handed the keys to Stratford.

Coe insists Britain has a “moral obligation” to deliver the multi-sport legacy he promised when London made its winning pitch.

He said: “I have nothing to add to my position, except to observe there’s a strength of feeling out there and it’s right that we discuss the legacy now rather than when the Olympic Games have come to town and moved on.”

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Olympic stadium decision enters final lap

The future of the Olympic stadium beyond the 2012 Games will reach a critical juncture on Friday when the government body responsible for its legacy meets to consider the rival bids of Premiership football clubs West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur as the stadium’s anchor tenants.

The OPLC declined to comment but confirmed that papers setting out the recommendation of the executive team had been sent to the 14 board members on Wednesday.

West Ham and Tottenham both declined to comment.

OPLC insiders said there were several hurdles to go before a preferred bidder was chosen. Not the least of these is what is expected to be a full and robust discussion by the board members on Friday.

However, insiders have previously said the recommendation of the executives, led by Andrew Altman, the OPLC chief executive, would be difficult for board members to reject.

The OPLC board’s recommendation will then be passed on to two government ministers – Jeremy Hunt, culture secretary, and Eric Pickles, the local government minister – as well as Boris Johnson, the London mayor, who will collectively have the final say.

The OPLC will enter into negotiations with the preferred bidder before final contracts are signed.

The bidders have to meet five criteria, including the viability of their plans, flexible use of the stadium and commitments to a legacy solution for the stadium.

The key difference between the two bids was over the future of the Olympic running track. West Ham is committed to retain the track while Spurs is not, instead planning to demolish most of the stadium and build a new facility dedicated to football.

In the eyes of some involved in the Olympics project, notably Lord Coe, the London 2012 chairman, the retention of the running track was a key promise to the International Olympic Committee when London won the bid for the Games.

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Posted in: 2012 London Olympic,2012 London Olympics,2012 Olympic stadium,2012 Olympics,2012 Olympics logo,2012 Olympics venue,London Olympic 2011,Olympic in 2012,Olympics 2012