Spurs Plan to Demolish 2012 Olympic Stadium; Fredericks Backs Hammers Bid

(ATR) Tottenham Hotspur plan to knock down most of London’s Olympic Stadium and build a bespoke football stadium on the site if their bid to win its tenancy is successful.

The North London club are currently vying with Premier League rivals West Ham to take control of the 80,000-seat venue after the 2012 Games. A decision on a preferred bidder will be made by the Olympic Park Legacy Company by Jan. 28.

"We’ve set out to provide a fan experience that is better than anything else in Europe in terms of a fan experience," said David Keirle, chairman of Tottenham’s architects, KSS, and a Tottenham vice president.

Tottenham – who have recently had plans to redevelop their existing home at White Hart Lane approved – are bidding in partnership with American sports giant AEG. They propose building a 60,000-seat stadium on the site.

As part of their plans and in order to fulfil London 2012’s commitment to have a purpose-built athletics stadium in the capital, Tottenham have also offered to underwrite the redevelopment of the Crystal Palace athletics stadium in south London.

The intention is to create a 25,000-seat stadium "with athletics at its core".

In contrast to Tottenham, West Ham plan to keep the Olympic Stadium's running track and reduce capacity to 60,000.

In a presentation to media in central London today, Kearle went to great length to expose the shortcomings of West Ham's plans.

West Ham nevertheless remain slight favorites in the race to take over the Olympic site from 2015.

LOCOG chairman Sebastian Coe has effectively given his backing to the east London club, and he was joined Wednesday by Frank Fredericks, chair of the IOC Athlete's Commission, who backed West Ham's bid plan to retain the track and leave an athletics legacy. UK Athletics has already thrown its weight behind the plan.

Speaking to reporters after an IOC meeting in Lausanne, the Namibian four-time Olympic silver medalist in the 100m and 200m said he regretted the fact that the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Stadium, in which he won two medals, had been turned into a baseball stadium.

"It is an empty feeling, the feeling that you cannot take your kids to show where you competed. I ran my fastest time there in the 200m," he said.

"Being an Olympian, I would like that they [London 2012] continue to keep the [athletics] legacy and hopefully the track can stay."

Cameron, Johnson Warn Against Olympic Strikes

British leaders fear the London Olympics and Royal Wedding could be targets for workers itching to strike.

In a joint editorial published Wednesday by The Sun, prime minister David Cameron and London mayor Boris Johnson urged union members to spare such celebrations.

"They've got the Olympics in their sights too, refusing to rule out strikes over one of our most important national events for decades," Cameron and Johnson wrote a day after reports that union bosses were eying the pair of mega-events.

"Of course there should be a right to strike. But that's not what this is about."

The politicians also called for union members to overthrow those bosses supporting disruption of the April 29 nuptials and 2012 Summer Games.

"The Royal Wedding and the Olympics present amazing opportunities for our country to show the world the best of British, to boost our economy, to have a party and have fun,"the editorial read.

"We are determined to make the most of them. If this country pulls together we can have a great day in April and put on a fantastic show in 2012.

"That's why now is not a time for division, but for sticking together."

U-21 Coach Tapped for Olympic Football Team

England Under-21 boss Stuart Pearce is expected to coach Team Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics.

The Press Association reported Wednesday that Football Association general secretary Alex Horne thinks Pearce is the "logical choice" and that a two-year deal could already be in the works.

The former Manchester City manager’s contract expires in June, at which point the FA would simply tack on the Olympic post to his existing role.

According to Horne, the U-21 squad will essentially transition into Team GB in the run-up to the Games, an arrangement that makes Pearce the perfect man for the job.

"It would be very logical," he was quoted by the press agency.

"I suspect that what we will have to do is to substitute out the England Under-21fixtures for this team - this hybrid team, assuming it has alternative players in it."

More Controversy at 2012 Sailing Venue

Politicians are divided about making a park that will overlook London 2012’s sailing competition a ticketing venue.

BBC News reported Tuesday that Weymouth and Portland Borough Council approved a controversial proposal that will bring big-screen TVs to Weymouth Beach to accommodate crowds expected to reach upwards of 50,000 during the Games.

To help fund that live site, councilors are considering charging entry to Nothe Gardens, a nearby park that would offer uninhibited views of each of 10 Olympics sailing events.

The sport’s ticket prices are set between $31 and $86, meaning the entry charge would fall somewhere within that range.

"I wouldn't pay £50 ($78) to come up here," Liberal Democrat councilor John Birtwhistle was quoted by the British news agency.

"A lot of people come up here - local people - to walk their dog and they're going to be told 'you can't come up here'. It's not on."

LOCOG will reportedly only consider the use of the gardens after consulting public opinion.

Olympics to Shake Up London Transport

A third of Londoners could alter their travel routines during the 2012 Games, says Olympic Delivery Authority transport director Hugh Sumner.

His prediction came Wednesday as the London Assembly questioned transport leaders about the impact of Olympic works as well as worries that special traffic lanes could cause congestion and compromise pedestrian safety during the Games.

"Approximately a little under a third of people will do different things during Games time but when you compare that to other Olympics or Commonwealth Games that is quite small," Sumner was quoted by The Press Association.

Also among mong those appearing before the Assembly’s transport committee were LOCOG transport director Richard George and Garrett Emmerson, Transport for London’s COO of Streets and Traffic.

According to Reuters, one committee member was outraged by the $300+ fines proposed for drivers who encroach on the 56 miles of road reserved for athletes, officials and media during the Games.

"I just think it is unnecessarily draconian," Richard Tracey was quoted by the news agency. "People are not going into these lanes to be awkward."

Written by James Corbett and Matthew Grayson.