London's Olympic Stadium might not re-open until after the Rio Games

The Olympic Stadium in east London may not re-open until after the Rio Games in 2016, it has been revealed.

Dennis Hone, chief executive of the London Legacy Development Corporation, said a football club was still the most likely tenant but that a re-opening by 2014, as originally planned, was “completely out”.

Mr Hone told the London Assembly’s budget and performance committee that the amount of work needed to fine-tune bids meant that the stadium would not re-open before August 2015, and possibly not until August 2016 – after the Rio Olympics.

The four companies bidding to use the venue are the Premier League football club West Ham United, the League One club Leyton Orient, UCFB College of Football Business, and Intelligent Transport Services in association with Formula One.

Talks have been held with all four bidders, and money has been spent investigating designs.