London Latest -- Mayor Urges Tottenham to Give Up Olympic Stadium Dispute

London Mayor to Tottenham Hotspur: Stay Put, Get $26.6 Million

Mayor Boris Johnson urges Tottenham Hotspur to give up its fight for Olympic Stadium and instead accept a $26.6 million package to stay put in north London.

"Tottenham Hotspur has long been an integral part of the community and by staying true to its roots the club now has the power to revolutionize an area of the capital that has been neglected for far too long," Johnson said Wednesday in a statement.

"Last month’s riots were a telling reminder of just how important it is for Spurs to press ahead with the development at Northumberland Park and to help kick-start a much wider regeneration project that would create jobs and give Tottenham the economic boost it deserves."

The package provides for $7.8 million to go toward vital infrastructure and public works as well as an additional $5.5 million to improve transportation in the area around historic White Hart Lane and the nearby Northumberland Park site the Spurs are proposing for their new stadium.

The local borough, meanwhile, is offering up another $13.3 million but is insisting that’s the final offer.

"The club knows there is no more money available from the public purse and I sincerely hope that they accept the offerwe have made," said Haringey Council Leader Claire Kober.

"It is critically important that Spurs commit to Tottenham to help drive forward regeneration in this very deprived area."

Premier League rival West Ham was selected as the Olympic Stadium’s preferred tenant back in February, a ruling Tottenham has been fighting ever since.

A court hearing slated for Oct. 18 will decide whether to overturn the decision following the revelation that an Olympic Park Legacy Company director was on West Ham’s payroll.

Given that the Hammers pledge to retain the stadium’s running track while the Spurs plan the opposite, the $26.6 offer doubles as an attempt to clear the way for London’s ongoing bid for the 2017 athletics world championships.

2012 Training Camps

Two teams selected training camps for the 2012 Olympics this week.

According to a BBC report, China’s artistic gymnastics team chose Salto National Gymnastics Centre in Lisburn, Northern Ireland for its base while Brazil’s judo team will use Sheffield Hallam University.

Irish sports minister Caral Ni Chuilin said she was happy with the gymnastics powerhouse’s decision touse the four-year-old venue.

"China is renowned for excellence in gymnastics, topping the medals table at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing with 18 medals," she was quoted by the BBC.

"Having the best in the world to train locally will raise the profile of the sport and the local facilities."

Brazilian judokas used the Sheffield Hallam venue for a warmup to this weekend’s world cup event in Liverpool and announced they will return to the facility five to 10 days before the start of next year’s Olympics.

Blair on Games

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair says he hopes the 2012 Olympics will revive sport in Britain.

Blair made the comments in India, where he is promoting the work of his Tony Blair Faith Foundation.

"I hope the Olympics brings a revival of sports legacy in the country," he was quoted by The Times of India.

"Sports is a good policy to make the youths responsible.

"My government did try to promote sports and I hope the London Olympics helps to revive our legacy as a sporting nation."

Written by Matthew Grayson and Ed Hula III.