Minister Supports Wembley For 2012

An agreement has been reached between London Mayor Boris Johnson and Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell, with both wanting Wembley Arena to host badminton and rhythmic gymnastics in the 2012 Games after the International Olympic Committee said London needs to ‘urgently’ name venues.

It signals the next step in the ongoing controversy around where the two sports will be held. 

The minister had previously been in support of having them in the temporary venue in north Greenwich, southeast London, which would cost £20m. 

Mayor Boris Johnoson, however, had been in favour of switching them to Wembley to save costs.

Now the pair has the job of persuading the two sports’ governing bodies that the stadium switch is the best option.

Although British Gymnastics has given their backing to the Wembley Arena choice, badminton has been steadfast in its opposition to the switch. Its world federation’s chief executive Adrian Christy said playing at the arena in north London would damage competitors’ performances due to the travelling time required from the athletes’ village in Stratford, east London.

London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe has reportedly said he would also back the Wembley Arena plan if the two sport federations supported it.

The decision needs to be made soon, as the IOC’s chairman Denis Oswald has made it clear that the badminton and rhythmic gymnastics venues must be selected as a matter of urgency, expressing ‘deep concern’ that the choice has not been finalized three years before the Olympics are to take place.