IOC Approves Wembley 2012 Move

The International Olympic Committee has approved plans to move the badminton and rhythmic gymnastics events at the London 2012 Olympics to Wembley Arena – a green light that saves the Games’ organisers £40m in construction costs.

The move, made citing the ‘exceptional circumstances’ of the recession, would mean a temporary £40m venue will not need to be built in Greenwich as initially laid out in the plans for the Games.

Badminton’s governing body wanted to be near to the Olympic Park in Stratford however athletes are likely to be appeased by being offered nearby accommodation and training facilities to cut travel times.

‘There is some saving to make – the two federations have been very co-operative and understand it was wise to look for a cheaper solution,’ said International Olympic Committee (IOC) official Denis Oswald after a two-day inspection of London’s preparations.

‘The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) has made proposals in that direction, which has agreed in principle by the two federations.

‘It still has to be finalised but we have no doubt this situation will be finally resolved in the coming few weeks.’

LOCOG chairman Sebastian Coe added: ‘It’s a combination of cost – everyone recognises the world has changed dramatically since when we bid – but it’s also about legacy and athlete experience.

‘So these are the fine judgements. But these are the last two sports. Wembley’s been agreed by the leadership of those two sports and the leadership of the IOC as well.’

Oswald, the chairman of the IOC’s co-ordination commission, came to London’s support when it was suggested they had reneged on their bid promise for athletes to ‘compete and not commute’, saying that the global financial crisis had caused exceptional circumstances.

‘I don’t think we can say London went back on their promise. The two venues are exceptions and we should not forget that training facilities are all very close to the Village and athletes spend 90-95% of the time training rather than competing.

‘If in two sports the athletes have to travel a little further than expected and can walk from a hotel to the venue I don’t think it can be an issue. We just hope we won’t have a world financial crisis every four years.’

Oswald said the inspection overall had been very positive and that significant advances had been made since the IOC’s last visit in April.