WHUFC.com
West Ham United and Newham Council are the OPLC's preferred bidder for the
2012 Olympic Stadium
11.02.2011
The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) has today announced that it has
chosen West Ham United and Newham Council as its preferred bidder to take
over the 2012 Olympic Stadium after the Games. Sir Robin Wales, Mayor of
Newham, said: "We are delighted by the announcement. We think this decision
is the right one and the nation will be the biggest winner. "We are pleased
the OPLC has recognised our bid. London won the right to host the Olympics
by making a promise to leave a lasting legacy, not just for us and our
children but for future generations. It will inspire people in Newham and
beyond. "We were delighted when public opinion supported this view, and this
overwhelming public support has been recognised by the OPLC. "Our bid is
about giving something back to the community, to London and the country. We
will make the stadium a magnet for visitors across Britain, Europe and the
world, to view and participate in a wide range of sport and entertainment
fixtures. "We want to create a situation where people will feel good about
community education projects and more. That means every member of our
community could access the Olympic Stadium. Spectacular events drawing huge
crowds could sit side by side with community activities. You could go to a
Madonna concert - then sing on the same stage in a community choir the next
day."
Karren Brady, Vice Chairman of West Ham United, said: "Today is a momentous
day. I would like to thank the Olympic Park Legacy Company for making us
preferred bidder and acknowledge everyone involved in what has been a truly
professional process. "I would also like to recognise the significant
contribution of Newham Council, who have shared in our exciting vision from
day one, and thank our supporters for trusting in us to take West Ham United
to a new level. "We are proud to have been passed the Olympic torch and
fully embrace the responsibility we have for keeping the flame alive. "We
have been working on this project for some time now and are just at the
starting line of the race to make this a stadium that will really make the
nation proud.
"With our partners we know exactly how to do it. We are working on realising
our proposals already. We would like to say far more but fully understand we
are still under the process and must continue to respect it - as we have to
this point. "To West Ham supporters, I look forward to extending our
consultation process - now that we have the mandate from the OPLC to do so -
and I guarantee their views will continue to be heard. We simply cannot wait
to show them around this impressive and intimate stadium so they can truly
experience the awe and excitement that all who visit are compelled to feel.
"The club is run by supporters and today is another great day in our proud
history. This will be your stadium and an atmospheric home for generations
to come. Our vision is to move forward always with an eye on the past. We
have been granted a once in a lifetime opportunity to grow our club in a way
its huge fan base deserves and to really give something back to the
community of which it is such an intrinsic part. "The nation has kept its
promise and we'll keep ours. I promise.''
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West Ham chosen as preferred Olympic Stadium tenant
BBC.co.uk
West Ham United has been selected as the preferred club to move into the
Olympic Stadium in east London after the 2012 Games. Olympic Park Legacy
Company (OPLC) executives chose the club's bid over a rival proposal from
Tottenham Hotspur. The decision must now be ratified by two government
departments and the mayor of London, possibly next week. The vote in favour
of West Ham's bid for the £537m venue was unanimous. It was judged to
provide the best legacy. Spurs' plan was widely criticised because it would
involve knocking down the stadium and building a new one. The club intended
to pay for an expansion of the athletics facility in Crystal Palace, rather
than keeping a legacy for the sport in Stratford. West Ham, currently bottom
of the Premier League, will keep athletics in east London and leave the
running track untouched.
Baroness Ford, head of the OPLC, said: "We have made a unanimous
recommendation to back West Ham and the borough of Newham as the long term
tenant. "This represents the very best legacy for the stadium. "It is
cracking for the communities of east London and a really good outcome for
sport."
Baroness Ford claimed that, contrary to reports the recommendation was a
foregone conclusion, it was a tough decision. She said: "I pay tribute to
both bids. They have each put the most enormous amount of effort into
bringing the bids forward. "We were thrilled to have two robust
competitors."
A Spurs spokesman said: "We provided a first class proposal to support the
sustainability of the whole project. "It was never an option, however, that
we would retain the running track as we believe this unacceptable for our
supporters. "Much has been made of the promise to keep the track and
therefore we expect to see this legally guaranteed." The club added the deal
was not yet concluded and it would "monitor the situation".
West Ham are yet to comment.
A joint statement from Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Communities
Secretary Eric Pickles read: ''Today's recommendation by the OPLC board
marks an important milestone for the future of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic
Park and the whole Olympic project. "We will look through their
recommendation in detail before coming to our own decision. "We aim to make
a formal announcement to Parliament shortly."
It is considered highly unlikely that the government and Mayor of London
Boris Johnson will not now rubber stamp the recommendation. Reacting to the
announcement, Mr Johnson wrote on Twitter: "Significant step forward today
for the Olympic Park. Long-term future looking good." Ken Livingstone, Mr
Johnson's rival in the 2012 mayoral election, said: "This is the right
decision for Londoners, the right decision for sports fans and athletes and
the right decision for those who are working to deliver a long-term Olympic
legacy for the capital. "Today's decision will ensure we fulfil promises
that the capital will retain a world class athletics stadium at the Olympic
Park which will inspire future generations." UK Athletics boss Ed Warner
also welcomed the decision. He said: "The pledges have been met and there
will be a long-term athletics legacy in the Olympic Park. "We now have a
fantastic opportunity to ensure it continues to inspire for generations to
come."
It is expected to cost about £95m to convert the venue from an 80,000 seat
stadium to a 60,000-seat venue for football, athletics and cricket. The
Olympic Delivery Authority is to give £35m of that to West Ham, while most
of the remaining funds have been provided by a £40m loan arranged by Newham
Council. But Lord Sugar, former chairman of Spurs, has previously said the
West Ham plan is "totally flawed" and predicted the stadium would become "a
white elephant". "It will be a disaster for the taxpayer and we'll end up
having a mothballed Olympic village," he said ahead of the announcement. The
entertainment company AEG, who were partners in the Spurs bid, predict the
stadium will go bust within a decade if it retains an athletics track. But
there was jubilation in north London among Spurs supporters who had
campaigned against the club leaving its historic area. Tim Framp, of
Tottenham supporters' group We Are N17, said: "Our initial reaction to the
news is one of relief. "We don't want to be in any part of London apart from
the bit we belong in."
Tottenham MP David Lammy told BBC Sport: "Spurs leaving would be devastating
for the local community. "It's hard to put into words how important Spurs
is." Haringey Council also praised the decision. It stressed that Spurs have
planning permission for a new stadium at the White Hart Lane site and said
building could "start almost immediately".
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West Ham owner David Gold thrilled by Olympic verdict
BBC.co.uk
West Ham co-owner David Gold said the endorsement of their bid to move into
the 2012 Olympic Stadium represented a "great day for Great Britain".
The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) chose the east London club's bid over
a rival proposal from Tottenham. "We are very, very excited about what
happened today and it is nice to be on the winning side," Gold told
reporters at the Olympic site in Stratford. "We represented what is right,
what is fair and what is honest."
The OPLC board voted unanimously in favour of the proposal from West Ham and
their partners Newham Council, who had promised to retain the athletics
track at the stadium. The Spurs bid would have involved knocking down most
of the existing stucture to build a new one and expanding athletics
facilities at Crystal Palace, rather than keeping the sport in Stratford.
Gold said a victory for the Spurs bid would have broken the promise of
London 2012 chief Seb Coe, who had pledged to maintain a track and field
legacy at the stadium. "It is a great day for England and Great Britain
because we are keeping our promise," he added. "Lord Coe gave a promise on
behalf of us all and it would have been a tragedy if that had been broken."
The OPLC board's decision still needs to be ratified by London Mayor Boris
Johnson and two government departments. In a statement tinged with
resignation, Spurs accepted the OPLC's verdict but demanded that West Ham's
pledge to keep the running track at the stadium be legally binding. "Much
has been made of the promise to keep the athletics track within the Olympic
Stadium and, therefore, we should all expect to see the retention of this
track firmly embedded and legally guaranteed by those entrusted with this
legacy commitment, today and in the future," the statement read. "The OPLC's
decision has still to be approved by two Government departments and the
Mayor's Office. We shall continue to monitor the bid process over the coming
weeks up until its final determination, whilst reviewing our position and
holding discussions with our advisors."
West Ham's proposed move to the Olympic stadium could have a major impact on
League One club Leyton Orient, whose Brisbane Road home is only two miles
from the Stratford venue. Orient chairman Barry Hearn has said either club
taking over the Olympic stadium would contravene Premier League and Football
League rules over clubs moving into the "immediate vicinity" of other clubs.
But Premier League spokesman Dan Johnson told BBC Sport the league had
already approved the proposals. "In examining all our criteria set out in
our rules there was no reason why either club shouldn't move to the Olympic
stadium," he said.
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UK Athletics boss hails West Ham Olympic Stadium choice
BBC.co.uk
UK Athletics boss Ed Warner has welcomed the decision to recommend West Ham
as the preferred tenant of the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Games.
The Olympic Park Legacy Company has favoured the West Ham bid over one from
rivals Tottenham Hotspur. London Mayor Boris Johnson and two government
departments must still ratify the OPLC board's decision. "The pledges have
been met and there will be a long-term athletics legacy in the Olympic
Park," Warner said. "The retention of the track means we now have a
fantastic opportunity to ensure that athletics cannot only make the most of
the 2012 opportunity, but ensure that it continues to inspire for
generations to come."
West Ham's bid, in conjunction with Newham Council, had promised to keep the
athletics track at the stadium untouched. However, the Spurs bid would have
involved knocking down the stadium and building a new one and expanding the
athletics facility in Crystal Palace, rather than keeping the sport in
Stratford. UK Athletics had publicly backed the Hammers' bid along with a
number of high-profile Olympians, including Dame Kelly Holmes, Steve Cram
and Daley Thompson and Warner believes the sport now has a bright future in
Britain. "We are of course delighted with this recommendation," Warner
added. "The West Ham and Newham bid has shown real vision and gives the UK a
unique opportunity for athletics at every level as well as the best chance
of hosting future international major events."
Sydney Olympic gold medallist Denise Lewis has told the BBC that it would
have been a 'travesty' if the OPLC decision had gone in favour of Spurs.
"I couldn't think of anything worse, both as an Olympian and someone who was
involved in the bidding process," she said. "The athletics stadium and the
track itself was at the heart of everything we spoke about in 2005 when we
made the bid. "It's an Olympic stadium, so you think track and field
athletics, and for that not to have played a part would have been
unthinkable. "Now it is down to UKA to make the most of it. I'd like to see
it as the heartbeat and the home of athletics and if we don't fight for the
sport we will lose our identity."
London 2012 chairman Lord Coe, who had backed the West Ham plans, said he
was delighted with the news. "I would like to thank Baroness Ford, her board
and her team at OPLC for conducting such a thorough process in what has been
a highly competitive bidding process," he said. The decision has also met
with the approval of both the British Olympic Association and ParalympicsGB.
"The recommendation is a victory for athletes, for sport and, importantly,
for the generations of young people who will see their lives transformed as
a result of London 2012," said a BOA statement. "This is also a victory for
the reputation of British sport globally. When the London 2012 bid team
stood before members of the International Olympic Committee in 2005 and
asked for their vote, they did so with a commitment to deliver a meaningful
legacy from the Olympic Games, including the retention of an athletics track
inside the stadium. "This recommendation, if ultimately accepted, will be a
major step forward in delivering on that promise."
Tim Reddish, chairman of ParalympicsGB added: "We hope that the performance
of the British Paralympians on the track and field in 2012 will inspire a
generation of disabled children to take up sport with the dream of becoming
Paralympians themselves."
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Johnson: we have delivered
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 11th February 2011
By: Staff Writer
The man expected to ratify West Ham's move to the Olympic Stadium has called
today's decision by the OPLC to grant preferred bidder status to West Ham 'a
very significant step'. Mayor of London Boris Johnson was speaking after
this lunchtime's announcement confirming United had beaten Tottenham in the
race to occupy the £500million stadium, following the 2012 Olympic Games.
"This is a very significant step forward towards delivering the Olympic Park
legacy and the Legacy Company has run a thoroughly professional and robust
process," he said. "This milestone means we now have the prospect of a
local football club and a multi-use venue capable of hosting athletics, a
range of other sports and a vibrant programme of events for the local
community and schools. "I am thrilled that the Legacy Company board has
arrived at a recommendation for me and my colleagues in Government to
consider. I am confident that we will be able to respond quickly to the
advice of the Legacy Company in making our decision."
That decision is expected to be made by April 5th at the very latest, but
may come much sooner. With the stadium in the bag, West Ham can now turn
their attention to a rather more pressing problem - that of retaining a
Premier League position, starting at West Bromwich Albion tomorrow
afternoon.
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West Ham Utd 1 Tottenham 0
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 11th February 2011
By: Staff Writer
The OPLC have confirmed that their preferred bidder status will go to West
Ham United. The decision was finally confirmed at 12.25pm this afternoon
after the 14-man panel decided unanimously that West Ham's bid was the only
one that adhered to the legacy programme. News of West Ham's win has been
reasonably well greeted amongst the supporters, although there are still
many who feel that leaving the Boleyn will be the death-knell for the club.
Although the club have been given preferred bidder status, the deiciosn
still needs to be ratified by London mayor Boris Johnson and the Government,
neither of whom are expected to oppose the OPLC's decision.
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Spurs want legal guarantees
Tottenham challenge Hammers over stadium
By Pete O'Rourke - Follow me on Twitter @skysportspeteo Last updated:
11th February 2011
SSN
Tottenham have expressed their frustration at losing out to West Ham in the
battle to be the preferred bid for the Olympic Stadium. After weeks of
debate, West Ham were officially confirmed as the preferred bidder to take
over the Olympic Stadium after the London 2012 Games at a news conference in
Westminster on Friday. Tottenham were understandably disappointed to see
their bid rejected and they want legal guarantees that West Ham will retain
the running track at the stadium. A Tottenham statement read: "The OPLC has
today announced that the Club is not the preferred bidder for the Olympic
Stadium site. "The Olympic Stadium site is an essential element in the
creation of a viable Olympic Park and we know that, together with AEG, we
provided a first-class proposal to support the sustainability of the whole
project.
Promise
"It was never an option, however, that we would retain the running track as
we believe this to be unacceptable for our supporters and therefore wholly
unviable in the long term. "It carries with it the major risk of being
incapable of delivering a lasting legacy without further calls on the public
purse or a requirement for changes to the stadium and track at a later date.
"Much has been made of the promise to keep the Athletics track within the
Olympic Stadium and, therefore, we should all expect to see the retention of
this track firmly embedded and legally guaranteed by those entrusted with
this legacy commitment, today and in the future. "We submitted an honest bid
with the only solution we considered capable of delivering lasting
regeneration, a significant return to the public purse and wide-ranging
benefits to the local communities and to London. "The OPLC's decision has
still to be approved by two Government departments and the Mayor's Office.
We shall continue to monitor the bid process over the coming weeks up until
its final determination, whilst reviewing our position and holding
discussions with our advisors. "We shall spend time assessing our situation
in respect of a new stadium and when we have any further information we
shall update our supporters."
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Hammers home in on stadium
West Ham selected as preferred bidder over Tottenham
By Rachel Griffiths - Follow me on Twitter @skysportsrachg Last updated:
11th February 2011
SSN
West Ham have beaten Tottenham in the race to take over the Olympic Stadium
after being announced as the preferred bidder by the Olympic Park Legacy
Company. The OPLC confirmed in a news conference on Friday that West Ham
have won unanimous approval to move into the Stratford venue following the
2012 Games after they were judged to have fulfilled more of the criteria set
by the organisation than Tottenham. The announcement came after the 14
voting members of the OPLC board gathered for a special meeting on Friday
morning, where the future of the venue was the only item on the agenda.
The board's decision has to be ratified by two Government departments and
the London Mayor's office, and that is likely to take place next week, but
it would be highly unusual if their choice was not rubber-stamped by the
ministers and Boris Johnson. West Ham and Tottenham have been embroiled in a
fierce war of words over the stadium in the last few months, with both clubs
keen to take over the 80,000 capacity venue, which Spurs were planning to
downsize to a 60,000-seater football-only ground.
Leaked
Reports were leaked earlier this week that the east London club were the
winning bidders following controversy over Spurs' intention to remove the
running track inside the stadium if successful in their bid. Their plans
were to create a largely redeveloped football-only stadium without the track
and redevelop the Crystal Palace athletics stadium for that sport. Doing so
would have meant breaking promises made to the International Olympics
Committee back in 2005 as part of London's legacy when bidding for the
Games, and could have caused huge embarrassment to ministers and Johnson.
West Ham made it clear in their bid that they would keep the running track
and also stressed their dedication to putting back into the community, with
co-owner David Sullivan proposing several uses for the venue and underlining
the club's interest in the local area.
Cost
He said earlier this week: "The motive of myself and my partner David Gold
is to give something back to the community we came from and are still a part
of. "The Olympic Stadium will motivate and regenerate East London and
Essex." It seems the cost of the West Ham development also counted in the
Hammers' favour, with the club planning to spend only £95million, with
£40million coming in the form of a loan from bid partner Newham Council,
while Spurs' proposals would have seen the club borrow around £250million.
The speed with which the club would move into the venue has also been taken
into account, with Spurs' rebuilding plans meaning it could have taken the
club months to relocate. The decision will strike a severe blow to
Tottenham, who were looking to establish themselves as a permanent fixture
in football's elite with a move to the high-profile venue.
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Brady delighted with verdict
Brady hails 'momentous day'
Last updated: 11th February 2011
SSN
West Ham and Newham Council have expressed their delight following the
decision to award them the Olympic Stadium. The Hammers won the right to
play at the Stratford site after the London 2012 Games following the
decision by the Olympic Park Legacy Company to choose the East Londoners as
preferred bidders over Tottenham. It means West Ham will play their home
games at the stadium which will continue to have a running track for
athletics purposes. Club vice-chairman Karren Brady hailed the decision,
which is still to be rubber-stamped by the government and London Mayor, and
described it as a 'momentous day'. She told West Ham's official website:
"Today is a momentous day. I would like to thank the Olympic Park Legacy
Company for making us the preferred bidder and acknowledge everyone involved
in what has been a truly professional process. "I would also like to
recognise the significant contribution of Newham Council, who have shared in
our exciting vision from day one, and thank our supporters for trusting in
us to take West Ham United to a new level. "We are proud to have been passed
the Olympic torch and fully embrace the responsibility we have for keeping
the flame alive.
Starting line
"We have been working on this project for some time now and are just at the
starting line of the race to make this a stadium that will really make the
nation proud. "With our partners we know exactly how to do it. We are
working on realising our proposals already. We would like to say far more
but fully understand we are still under the process and must continue to
respect it - as we have to this point. "To West Ham supporters, I look
forward to extending our consultation process - now that we have the mandate
from the OPLC to do so - and I guarantee their views will continue to be
heard. "We simply cannot wait to show them around this impressive and
intimate stadium so they can truly experience the awe and excitement that
all who visit are compelled to feel. "The club is run by supporters and
today is another great day in our proud history. This will be your new
stadium and an atmospheric home for generations to come. Our vision is to
move forward always with an eye on the past. "We have been granted a once in
a lifetime opportunity to grow our club in a way its huge fan base deserves
and really give something back to the community of which it is such an
intrinsic past."
Sir Robin Wales, Mayor of Newham, added: "We are delighted by the
announcement. We think this decision is the right one and the nation will be
the biggest winner. "We are pleased the OPLC has recognised our bid. London
won the right to host the Olympics by making a promise to leave a lasting
legacy, not just for us and our children but for future generations. It will
inspire people in Newham and beyond."
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Hammers decision hailed
Reaction to Olympic Stadium decision
By Pete O'Rourke - Follow me on Twitter @skysportspeteo Last updated:
11th February 2011
SSN
London mayor Boris Johnson fully expects West Ham's move to the Olympic
Stadium to be ratified. West Ham were officially confirmed as the preferred
bid to take over the Olympic Stadiumafter the London 2012 Games at a news
conference in Westminster on Friday. Johnson described the decision as a
"very significant step" forward towards delivering the Olympic Park legacy
and expects the move to be rubber-stamped by all the authorities. "This is a
very significant step forward towards delivering the Olympic Park legacy and
the Legacy Company has run a thoroughly professional and robust process,"
said Johnson. "This milestone means we now have the prospect of a local
football club and a multi-use venue capable of hosting athletics, a range of
other sports and a vibrant programme of events for the local community and
schools. "I am thrilled that the Legacy Company board has arrived at a
recommendation for me and my colleagues in Government to consider. "I am
confident that we will be able to respond quickly to the advice of the
Legacy Company in making our decision."
In a joint statement, Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Communities
Secretary Eric Pickles said: "Today's recommendation by the OPLC board marks
an important milestone for the future of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
and the whole of the Olympic project. "We would like to thank Baroness Ford
and all her board members for the conscientious and thorough way they have
approached the decision-making process. "We will look through their
recommendation in detail before coming to our own decision. We aim to make a
formal announcement to Parliament shortly."
In a statement, the British Olympic Association said: "The recommendation
announced today by the Olympic Park Legacy Company is a victory for
athletes, for sport and, importantly, for the generations of young people
who will see their lives transformed as a result of the London 2012 Olympic
Games. "We hope this recommendation will ensure the London Games will be the
beginning, rather than the end, of a dynamic new era for Olympic, high
performance and grassroots sport in Great Britain. "This is also a victory
for the reputation of British sport globally. When the London 2012 bid team
stood before members of the International Olympic Committee in 2005 and
asked for their vote, they did so with a commitment to deliver a meaningful
legacy from the Olympic Games, including the retention of an athletics track
inside the iconic Olympic Stadium. "The recommendation announced today, if
ultimately accepted, will be a major step forward in delivering on that
promise."
Legacy
Baroness Ford, chair of the OPLC, insisted the selection process had been
fair and robust. She described the decision as "the very best legacy for the
stadium, cracking for the community of east London, excellent news for the
UK taxpayer and very good for sport".
Ford told the news conference: "Each bidder has put an enormous amount of
effort into this. We are delighted to have two robust, competitive bids.
"Our job today was to judge the merits against the five criteria we have set
out from the start of the process. "Our board has considered this really
carefully and we have made a unanimous recommendation to select West Ham and
the London borough of Newham as the long-term tenant for our Olympic
Stadium. "This has not been an easy decision and, despite what has been
trailed in some of the newspapers, this has not been a fait accompli.
"We have taken this very seriously indeed. Both bidders were considered
seriously on the merits - that's what our job was."
London 2012 chairman Lord Coe said: "We are delighted with the news that the
Olympic Park Legacy Company has recommended West Ham United as the preferred
bid to take over the Olympic Stadium after the London 2012 Games. "I would
like to thank Baroness Ford, her board and her team at OPLC for conducting
such a thorough process in what has been a highly competitive bidding
process." UK Athletics chairman Ed Warner said the decision made "commercial
sense". "This is a fantastic opportunity for generations to come," Warner
told Sky Sports News. "We are looking at a lease which goes on for more than
100 years. "There is going to be football sitting side by side with
athletics and a whole host of other community events at this stadium. "It
was what the legacy of the Olympics was always intended to be about. "We
have worked very hard with Newham council and with West Ham to come up with
a vibrant solution that sustains the stadium. "It's great for West Ham and
really good for the sport of athletics. "The commercials really stack up,
the legacy company have taken their time to take a fine toothcomb to this
bid and the Tottenham bid and they have taken a decision which is right for
London, right for the Olympics and makes commercial sense."
Former Tottenham chairman Lord Sugar, who felt Spurs' bid to rebuild the
stadium as a football-only venue was superior, believes in time West Ham
will realise football and athletics do not mix. Sugar told Sky Sports News:
"One bit of advice I gave to Spurs is to collect all the articles that have
been written about this fiasco up until now, put them in storage and bring
them out in four years' time and at least you will have the satisfaction of
saying, 'I told you so'. "I wonder whether the due diligence will include an
absolute cast-iron agreement with West Ham that whatever happens they must
keep a running track, that will be very interesting to see if the committee
do insist upon that."
No issue
Sugar admitted he has no personal issue with West Ham co-owners David Gold
or David Sullivan or Hammers vice-chairman Karren Brady, who appears
alongside Sugar as an adviser on The Apprentice. "I wish them luck. I like
the two Davids and of course Karren, and good luck to them. It ain't going
to work, but good luck to them." Sugar doubted whether Spurs would launch
any legal action against the decision, but was surprised at the ability of
Newham Council to help finance the rival bid and called on Haringey Council
to provide similar backing to Spurs in order for them to remain in north
London. Tottenham MP David Lammy was opposed to Spurs' plans to move to east
London, and Sugar hopes he will now assist Tottenham in staying close to
their historic roots. He added: "What I would suggest to Tottenham is that
they go back to Haringey and say to Haringey - in particular our great
supporter David Lammy - 'done is done, you've got your wish, we're not
moving, if you want us in Haringey, what are you going to do about it?' "If
Newham, the poorest council in the country, can cough up 40 million quid,
give us a £250million, 25-year mortgage at low interest rates so that we can
build a stadium in Haringey."
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Brady hails 'momentous' Olympic Stadium decision
Published 13:13 11/02/11 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
West Ham and Newham council chiefs have hailed the "momentous" decision of
the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) to make the Hammers' the preferred
bidder for the Olympic Stadium. Karren Brady, Vice Chairman of West Ham
United, said: "Today is a momentous day. I would like to thank the Olympic
Park Legacy Company for making us preferred bidder and acknowledge everyone
involved in what has been a truly professional process. "I would also like
to recognise the significant contribution of Newham Council, who have shared
in our exciting vision from day one, and thank our supporters for trusting
in us to take West Ham United to a new level. "We are proud to have been
passed the Olympic torch and fully embrace the responsibility we have for
keeping the flame alive. "We have been working on this project for some time
now and are just at the starting line of the race to make this a stadium
that will really make the nation proud. "With our partners we know exactly
how to do it. We are working on realising our proposals already. We would
like to say far more but fully understand we are still under the process and
must continue to respect it - as we have to this point.
"To West Ham supporters, I look forward to extending our consultation
process - now that we have the mandate from the OPLC to do so - and I
guarantee their views will continue to be heard. We simply cannot wait to
show them around this impressive and intimate stadium so they can truly
experience the awe and excitement that all who visit are compelled to feel.
"The club is run by supporters and today is another great day in our proud
history. This will be your stadium and an atmospheric home for generations
to come. Our vision is to move forward always with an eye on the past. We
have been granted a once in a lifetime opportunity to grow our club in a way
its huge fan base deserves and to really give something back to the
community of which it is such an intrinsic part. "The nation has kept its
promise and we'll keep ours. I promise.''
Sir Robin Wales, Mayor of Newham, said: "We are delighted by the
announcement. We think this decision is the right one and the nation will be
the biggest winner. "We are pleased the OPLC has recognised our bid. London
won the right to host the Olympics by making a promise to leave a lasting
legacy, not just for us and our children but for future generations. It will
inspire people in Newham and beyond. "We were delighted when public opinion
supported this view, and this overwhelming public support has been
recognised by the OPLC. "Our bid is about giving something back to the
community, to London and the country. We will make the stadium a magnet for
visitors across Britain, Europe and the world, to view and participate in a
wide range of sport and entertainment fixtures.
"We want to create a situation where people will feel good about community
education projects and more. That means every member of our community could
access the Olympic Stadium. Spectacular events drawing huge crowds could sit
side by side with community activities. You could go to a Madonna concert -
then sing on the same stage in a community choir the next day."
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Spurs call for legal guarantee that Olympic Stadium running track will be
kept
Published 14:10 11/02/11 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
After missing out to West Ham in the race for the Olympic Stadium, Tottenham
have now called for a legal guarantee that the running track will be kept
once the Hammers take residence in the ground. A statement released by the
club read: "The Olympic Stadium site is an essential element in the creation
of a viable Olympic Park and we know that, together with AEG, we provided a
first class proposal to support the sustainability of the whole project.
"It was never an option, however, that we would retain the running track as
we believe this to be unacceptable for our supporters and therefore wholly
unviable in the long term. It carries with it the major risk of being
incapable of delivering a lasting legacy without further calls on the public
purse or a requirement for changes to the stadium and track at a later date.
"Much has been made of the promise to keep the Athletics track within the
Olympic Stadium and, therefore, we should all expect to see the retention of
this track firmly embedded and legally guaranteed by those entrusted with
this legacy commitment, today and in the future. "We submitted an honest bid
with the only solution we considered capable of delivering lasting
regeneration, a significant return to the public purse and wide-ranging
benefits to the local communities and to London. "The OPLC's decision has
still to be approved by two Government departments and the Mayor's Office.
We shall continue to monitor the bid process over the coming weeks up until
its final determination, whilst reviewing our position and holding
discussions with our advisors. "We shall spend time assessing our situation
in respect of a new stadium and when we have any further information we
shall update our supporters."
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Sugar: West Ham's Olympic Stadium plan "ain't going to work"
Published 13:54 11/02/11 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
Former Tottenham chairman Lord Sugar says West Ham's plan for the Olympic
Stadium is unworkable. Sugar, who felt Spurs' bid to rebuild the stadium as
a football-only venue was superior, believes in time West Ham will realise
football and athletics do not mix. Sugar told Sky News: "One bit of advice I
gave to Spurs is to collect all the articles that have been written about
this fiasco up until now, put them in storage and bring them out in four
years' time and at least you will have the satisfaction of saying 'I told
you so.' "I wonder whether the due diligence will include an absolute
cast-iron agreement with West Ham that whatever happens they must keep a
running track, that will be very interesting to see if the committee do
insist upon that."
Sugar admitted he has no personal issue with West Ham co-owners David Gold
or David Sullivan or Hammers vice-chairman Karren Brady, who appears
alongside Sugar as an adviser on BBC programme The Apprentice. Speaking to
Sky Sports News, he said: "I wish them luck. I like the two Davids and of
course Karren, and good luck to them. It ain't going to work, but good luck
to them."
Sugar doubted whether Spurs would launch any legal action against the
decision, but was surprised at the ability of Newham Council to help finance
the rival bid and called on Haringey Council to provide similar backing to
Spurs in order for them to remain in north London. Tottenham MP David Lammy
was opposed to Spurs' plans to move to east London, and Sugar hopes he will
now assist Tottenham in staying close to their historic roots.
He added: "What I would suggest to Tottenham is that they go back to
Haringey and say to Haringey - in particular our great supporter David Lammy
- 'done is done, you've got your wish, we're not moving, if you want us in
Haringey, what are you going to do about it?' "If Newham, the poorest
council in the country, can cough up 40 million quid, give us a £250million,
25-year mortgage at low interest rates so that we can build a stadium in
Haringey."
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West Ham preferred bidder for Olympic Stadium reaction: 'only time Spurs
fans celebrate a West Ham win'
By Telegraph staff and agencies 2:56PM GMT 11 Feb 2011
The unanimous decision to announce West Ham as the preferred bidder for the
Olympic Stadium has been welcomed in most corners by sporting figures,
bodies and politicians. Even certain Spurs fans are enjoying celebrating a
rare West Ham victory this season. International Olympic Committee (IOC):
The IOC welcomes the Olympic Park Legacy Company's decision which allows
Games preparations to continue and paves the way for a great sporting
legacy.
West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady: We are proud to have been passed the
Olympic Torch and fully embrace the responsibility we have for keeping the
flame alive. Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp: Football clubs belong
to the fans at the end of the day. So they want to move? Do they want to
watch a team play in a stadium with an athletics track around it? I wouldn't
want to watch football with an athletics track stuck around it. There's no
atmosphere. Tim Framp, spokesman for the 'We are N17' group of Tottenham
supporters: It is probably the only time in my life I have or will celebrate
a victory for West Ham. I actually feel a bit sorry for some of the West Ham
fans that are going to be sat in that stadium because I don't actually think
either bid was particularly great.
Spurs' official statement: We shall continue to monitor the bid process over
the coming weeks up until its final determination, whilst reviewing our
position and holding discussions with our advisers. It carries with it the
major risk of being incapable of delivering a lasting legacy without further
calls on the public purse or a requirement for changes to the stadium and
track at a later date. Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt and Communities
secretary Eric Pickles: Today's recommendation by the OPLC Board marks an
important milestone for the future of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and
the whole of the Olympic project. We will look through their recommendation
in detail before coming to our own decision. We aim to make a formal
announcement to Parliament shortly. Former Tottenham chairman Lord Sugar: I
wonder whether the due diligence will include an absolute cast-iron
agreement with West Ham that whatever happens they must keep a running
track, that will be very interesting to see if the committee do insist upon
that. British Olympic Association (BOA): The recommendation announced today
by the Olympic Park Legacy Company is a victory for athletes, for sport and,
importantly, for the generations of young people who will see their lives
transformed as a result of the London 2012 Olympic Games.
UK Athletics chairman Ed Warner: The commercials really stack up, the legacy
company have taken their time to take a fine toothcomb to this bid and the
Tottenham bid and they have taken a decision which is right for London,
right for the Olympics and makes commercial sense.
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