On ABC National radio news this morning it was revealed that Tottenham has the better financial plan to take over the Olympic venue and would covert it to a Football stadium where the spectators are close to the action. The track and field running track would therefore be pulled up.
The London Daily Telegraph meanwhile has revealed that the Tottenham-AEG consortium, as revealed by Telegraph Sport last month, has offered to pay for an upgrade of the Crystal Palace athletics stadium, providing 9,500 extra permanent seats to raise its capacity to 25,000 with the option of adding a further 15,000 seats to stage a World Championship.
West Ham's bid is not the preferred bid although they would keep the athletic track and the International Olympic Committee it seems wants their views heard. The London Daily Telegraph quoted IOC Executive Board member Frankie Fredericks, who won four silver Olympic medals, said it was vitally important to retain the track in the stadium.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/8257120/London-2012-Olympics-Tottenhams-plans-to-demolish-and-rebuild-stadium-on-agenda-at-IOC-meeting.html
Financial history is not on the side of West Ham's bid where money talks. The 1996 Atlanta Olympic stadium's athletic track was ripped up for the same reasons as Tottenham's, to turn the stadium into a Gridiron generic sport facility where the spectators are close top the action.
Some years ago now when my son was at school, he wanted me to take him to watched a Socceroos match soon after the Sydney Olympics which was held at the Olympic venue. The athletic track in effect distanced us from the action and in my view, it distorted the reason why we'd come.
As a field hockey man, hockey venues with their artificial pitches have followed the English Football models with the purpose built constructions with the spectator stands close to the action.
Football spectators will feel as thought they are the losers if West Ham gets the bid and retains the athletic track. Those in Track and Field will feel the losers if Tottenham wins the bid and they lose their 2012 London Olympic venue for an alternative.
Solomon, where are you?