By Adrian Warner
Olympics correspondent, BBC London
West Ham have won the backing of Olympic bosses in the battle for the 2012
stadium, BBC London has learned. Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC)
executives have decided the offer from the club is a better solution than
the rival bid from Tottenham. The OPLC board will be asked to support the
view and announce the Hammers as preferred bidder on Friday. The government
and London's mayor, Boris Johnson will then take a final decision in the
coming weeks. It would be a surprise if ministers and the mayor overturn
OPLC executives, who have spent the last few months discussing the various
plans with both clubs in detail. West Ham are happy for the athletics track
to be kept in the stadium and for the venue to be used for a variety of
sports and concerts.
Tottenham's plans were to dismantle the stadium in Stratford and build a new
football ground in its place. The Spurs proposal has faced huge criticism
from the athletics world, MPs and the public. A recent BBC London poll
suggested 81% of Londoners were against the proposals to rip up the
athletics track.
The ComRes phone poll, carried out between 21 and 23 January, also suggested
72% of people in London wanted West Ham to get the stadium, with only 13%
supporting Tottenham. Ministers and the mayor are understood to be well
aware that the Tottenham option would have been a "hard sell" to taxpayers.
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