West Ham Win Stadium Bidding War; U.S. Ambassador Eyes 2016

(ATR) West Ham United will take over Olympic Stadium after London 2012.

The Olympic Park Legacy Company chose the east London football club Friday over Premier League rival Tottenham Hotspur, a move that should ensure the athletics track remains after the Games.

"We are confident that this represents the very best legacy for the Stadium," OPLC chair Margaret Ford said at the announcement.

"It’s good for the community of East London, it’s great for Londoners, it’s excellent news for the UK taxpayer and it’s a good outcome for sport."

Spurs' controversial proposal for the stadium, backed by an aggressive marketing effort with partner AEG Europe, may have been too radical for the OPLC to stomach. They wanted to demolish most of the venue and rebuild a bespoke football facility, but their commitment to leaving an athletics legacy after the Games was only through plans to revamp Crystal Palace athletics stadium in south London.

The decision was welcomed by the chorus of voices that spoke out in favor of the Newham bid since the Hammers and Spurs were shortlisted back in October.

"When the London 2012 Bid Team stood before members of the International Olympic Committee in 2005 and asked for their vote, they did so with a commitment to deliver a meaningful legacy from the Olympic Games, including the retention of an athletics track inside the iconic Olympic Stadium," read a statement from the British Olympic Association.

"The recommendation announced today, if ultimately accepted, will be a major step forward in delivering on that promise."

UK Athletics chairman Ed Warner was likewise pleased.

"The West Ham and Newham bid has shown real vision and gives the UK a unique opportunity for athletics at every level as well as the best chance of hosting future international major events," he said.

Though this OPLC’s decision was unanimous, West Ham must still be approved by two government departments as well as London mayor Boris Johnson.

The latter should not prove difficult judging by his post-decision reaction.

"Significant step forward today for the Olympic Park," Johnson tweeted after the announcement. "Long-term future looking good."

A more imposing challenge could come from a familiar opponent. The Spurs are reportedly mulling a lawsuit, one British Olympics minister Hugh Robertson said would have no merit.

"When you have a competition like this, things get said in the heat of battle that, in the cold reflection of morning, you may want to think about," he wasquoted by Sportbeat.

"I can understand Tottenham's disappointment. If they want to take it the courts they've got to prove their case. I don't think there is any grounds for judicial review but it's an issue for Tottenham Hotspur and their lawyers."

Other heavyweight backers of West Ham included LOCOG chairman Sebastian Coe and International Association of Athletics Federations boss Lamine Diack, who said that London would be telling "a big lie" if it went back on its commitment to the IOC by tearing out the running track.

U.S. Eyes Rio Investment

The U.S. wants in on Olympic investment ahead of Rio 2016.

AFP reported Thursday that U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Economic, Energy and Business Affairs Jose Fernandez hopesthe country can capitalize on what he calls the "sweet spot" of relations with Brazil.

Discussing involvement with the Games, he said "stadiums, roads, power plants, electricity -- those are areas where we believe U.S. companies can play a part".

Fernandez was in Brasilia Thursday to meet with ministry officials and pave the way for a visit next month by President Barack Obama, who is looking to strengthen his country’s relationship with newly elected Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff.

Media Watch

CBC published a Q&A with John Furlong about the lessons learned from the 2010 Olympics.

Burnaby News Leader reporter Grant Granger recalls the Olympic Flame’s visit to the town.

Women’s ice hockey great Cassie Campbell-Pascall says the Vancouver Olympics helped grow women’s hockey.

The International Ice Hockey Federation has an interview with Canadian Olympic Committee chief Marcel Aubut. In it he discusses a future Canadian Winter Olympic bid, and bringing an NHL team to Quebec City.

Written by Matthew Grayson.