Coe Plays Down 2012 Stadium Fears

Chair of the 2012 London Games Sebastian Coe, has dismissed suggestions that the Olympic Stadium and its athletics track could become a white elephant, after the UK government performed a U-turn on the venue’s future.

The government scrapped its initial decision to hand control of the venue over to West Ham United and Newham Council and instead announced that a tenant, rather than an owner, would be found.

West Ham has already confirmed that it still plans to bid for the tenancy.

Coe told the BBC: ‘If we had a larger venue we would fill that venue. You have only got to go to Crystal Palace for any of those Diamond League meetings to know how many people turn up on spec hoping to get tickets.’

‘Don’t run away with the idea that track and field is a sport that is not supported. I do think it is very important that we maintain a commitment to an Olympic legacy and to a mix of tenancies in there. That is a commitment we made and I think we should see it through.’

The previous deal collapsed following delays caused by legal challenges to the decision to award the stadium to West Ham and Newham Council.

Premier League club Tottenham and third-tier club Leyton Orient were also bidding to move into the Olympic Stadium.

Coe added: ‘London is now the only city that stages two of those back-to-back. We not only sell out for every one of those meetings but we would also probably be able to sell five times that number of tickets.’

‘There is no lack of demand for top-class track and field in this country sitting alongside the use of the stadium for local events, English schools championships and the plethora of events and other competitions that are there.’