12:35 AM
Shweta Pandey
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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