War of words continue over Olympic Stadium

Tottenham have thrown their weight behind their Olympic Stadium bid after scrapping plans to build closer to their White Hart Lane home.

West Ham – also in the running to move to the stadium at Stratford – have slammed Spurs’ bid, claiming their English Premier League rivals have broken a key promise to maintain the athletics track at the purpose-built facility.

Spurs’ controversial bid to acquire the athletics stadium post-London Olympics in 2012 and transform it into a football-only arena has been met with criticism.

But Tottenham Chief Executive Daniel Levy has confirmed Spurs have abandoned their plan to build a new stadium – titled the Northumberland Development Project – next to their current base in North London.

It means Spurs are putting their full confidence behind attaining and refurbishing the Olympic Stadium following the London Games.

Spurs are planning to develop the already-standing athletics track at Crystal Palace in London to compensate for tearing up the running surface at the Olympic Stadium, promising to upgrade the facility to a 25,000-capacity stadium with a new four-lane warm-up facility and an all-weather hockey pitch.

“With these proposals, Crystal Palace would become a reinvigorated dedicated facility, bringing more activity to the area and be available to the athletics community every single day of the year,” Levy said.

Levy also defended the suggestion removing the running track at the Olympic Stadium was against any previous promise made by Spurs, breaking the guidelines set out by the Olympic Park Legacy Company.

“We are proposing one of the most advanced, state-of-the-art stadiums in Europe that will deliver an exceptional spectator experience,” Levy told Sky Sports.

“Fans will be closer to the pitch than at any other comparable size stadium in the UK, while its acoustic design will ensure that the noise from spectators remains within the stadium.”

“Accusations that we would ‘demolish’ 500 million pounds of stadium are hugely inaccurate and highly irresponsible and I want to be very clear on this issue.”

“Our proposal will retain around 420 million pounds worth of the Olympic Stadium, and we will re-use or recycle the 80 million pounds that will be dismantled with zero landfill.”

“It is also important to remember that two thirds of the Olympic Stadium, under the original legacy plan, was to be dismantled – it was not designed to be a permanent structure.”

“Recent scaremongering conveniently forgets this fact.”

West Ham’s bid to claim the wanted stadium involves keeping a promise to maintain the running track, and Hammers Vice-Chairman Karren Brady believes Spurs have broken their word in their own bid to become residents.

“On 6 July 2005 (when London won the right to host the 2012 Games), a promise was made in the Queen’s name. We believe in that promise and we believe in legacy,” she said.

“It’s important for the UK’s credibility as a sporting nation – especially in the wake of the 2018 FIFA World Cup disappointment – to keep that promise.”