European Athletics Chief Backs West Ham Bid for London Olympic Stadium

(ATR) European Athletics president Hansjorg Wirz thew hisweight behind West Ham's plans to retain the athletics track in the London's Olympic Stadium in the increasingly bitter bid battle to take over thevenue after the Games.

Wirz is supporting UK Athletics chairman Ed Warner’s call for London 2012's promised athletics legacy to the IOC to be honored.

English Premier League club West Ham are vying for the 80,000-seat stadium with north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. The Hammers would retain the track under plans submitted to the Olympic Park Legacy Company. But Spurs announced last week they would demolish the $878 million stadium and rebuild a bespoke football venue.

"Keeping the athletics track must be part of any future plans for the Olympic Stadium," said Wirz in a statement Tuesday on the European Athletics website.

"London needs a high-quality venue that has the potential to host future European Athletics championships and world championships.

"An iconic venue such as the Olympic Stadium can act as an inspiration for future generations of British athletes, whether they train or compete there for clubs, schools or universities or are able to witness the best athletes compete there during a major championships."

Wirz said bid pledges made during the London 2012 bid campaign to leave an athletics track "should be honoured and not forgotten".

"Those voicing concerns about a multi-purpose stadium post-Olympics should consider venues such as the Stade de France, which has not only hosted a world championships in athletics and currently hosts the yearly Paris IAAF Diamond League meeting but has also seen a football World Cup final, two Champions League finals and a rugby World Cup final played there," he added.

Spurs' Olympic Stadium bid package to leave an athletics legacy from the London Games by rebuilding Crystal Palace athletics stadium in south London suffered a blow yesterday.

Crystal Palace football club of the English Championship said it would be unveiling its own plans to relocate to the athletics center at a press conference on Thursday.

Warner has slammed Spurs bid for the 2012 stadium, saying it would be a crying shame for the venue built mostly at taxpayers' expense to be knocked down. He said on Sunday that he wants the Olympic Park Legacy Company, which is due to announce its preferred bidder next week, to deliver an Olympic legacy on the 500-acre site in east London for generations to come.

"It's what was planned, a promise that has been made and I think all the politicians and the decision-makers need to stand behind those promises."

IOC president Jacque Rogge last week said he has no intention of intervening in the debate. That was one of the key promises made by London 2012 in its bid book and presentation to the IOC Session in Singapore in 2005.

Speaking at a press briefing Thursday, Rogge said: "we would favor, but as outsiders, a solution where there would be a track legacy. But the decision is in the hands of the Olympic Park Legacy Company together with UK Athletics and LOCOG.

"We would respect that decision. Having said that if a solution could be found for the track we will be happy."

Written by Mark Bisson.