Final bell? Decision time as legendary venues face KO

It is a critical week for London's famous twin towers. We are not talking about those obstinate edifices at Wembley, but a pair of sporting emporiums which seem headed for an equally unpleasant fate.

On Wednesday, Tower Hamlets' New Labour council will rubber-stamp their decision to sell off York Hall, which houses not only the most atmospheric boxing area in the land but one of the few public leisure complexes left in east London. The site is due to be redeveloped as luxury flats.

Twenty-four hours earlier, Sport England will have debated the future of Crystal Palace, London's only international athletics venue, although it has already been decided to hand back the lease to the site owners, Bromley Council, when it expires this time next a year. The council say they do not have funds to maintain it as a top-flight athletics facility.

The threat of demolition to the historic venues in east and south London has prompted a huge groundswell of public support. Yesterday there was a demonstration outside York Hall by groups which use the Bethnal Green building, including boxers, swimmers, schoolchildren and pensioners.

Among those leading the fight to preserve the 74-year-old York Hall are the boxing promoter Frank Warren and the former world welterweight champion John H Stracey. Warren has offered to buy the venue and keep it as a boxing museum. He says he is confident it won't be allowed to close for at least three years. "We have met with the council and there is no doubt that a lot of money has to be spent on it, at least £5 million. They have promised to get back to me with some realistic figures. It is imperative we try and keep it open on a long-term basis."

Stracey lived just a five-minute walk from the arena and fought there with distinction as a schoolboy, an amateur and professional. "The atmosphere can't be matched anywhere. It is magic. When you are in the ring you hear the crowd breathing. York Hall is pure boxing – no dancing girls, no fireworks, flags or anything like that, just old-fashioned cheering and applause."

He supports the protesters. "I hope the demos are loud and long. If you close York Hall you might as well fold up the entire East End." Although not big enough to have held major world championships, it has been a stage for many who have gone on to stardom. They include Lennox Lewis, Audley Harrison, Frank Bruno, Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank, the Americans Tim Witherspoon and Johnny Tapia, Charlie Magri and Stracey.

There are many in athletics who feel similarly strongly about Crystal Palace, which has been allowed to degenerate into a shabby, deteriorating monument to British sport.

According to Sport England discussions about its future remain on-going – there was a meeting in the City of London on Friday with relevant parties – although their decision to hand back control to Bromley Council is irrevocable. Sport England's argument is that the stadium built on the site of the original Crystal Palace 39 years ago is barely used for elite sport, although it has been funded as an elite venue in the past.

They say that 80 per cent of its use is for community sport. They also argue that major events like the athletics Grand Prix are irregular and only about four per cent of Britain's international athletes train there.

I understand that what the new chairman, Patrick Carter, is seeking to do is bring together a number of agencies who might be able to create a situation in which the Palace could be saved. These include the London mayor Ken Livingstone, whose interest has been fired by the current Olympic debate. But no one is holding their breath, and the long-term prospect looks bleak.

Even before handing back the track and accompanying pool and gymnasium facilities, Sport England will have to find £20m from their dwindling resources to ensure that, under the terms of the tenancy, it is in a fit state. The upkeep costs around £1.8m a year, a sum Sport England say they can no longer afford in view of the "difficult decisions" having to be taken in respect of their budget.

It is a situation which infuriates coaches such as Mark Rowland. "To say Crystal Palace is sub-standard would be an understatement. It is bloody ridiculous that there is no heating here because Sport England will not release any funds until they know what the future holds. People like Dwain Chambers and Steve Backley regularly train here, they are role models and should not be treated like this. What's the point of talking about London having the Olympics and all the money that is going to cost if we cannot find a few thousand pounds to maintain the facilities we already have?"

Six reasons to remember

York Hall (opened 1929)

1972: Popular East Ender John H Stracey, later to become world welterweight champion, outpoints unbeaten fellow Briton Ricky Porter.

1983: Flyweight Charlie Magri launches his career by winning the junior ABA title.

1988: The American heavyweight Tim Witherspoon beats South American Mauricio Villegas.

1991: Middleweight Nigel Benn (right) knocks out American Robbie Simms.

2001: Venue for celebration party after Terry Spinks, an old favourite who fought there many times, was made MBE.

2002: Packed hall hails the London debut of controversial American legend Johnny Tapia.

Crystal Palace (opened 1964)

1973: David Bedford breaks world 10,000m record in 27min 30.80sec.

1978: 400m hurdles hero Alan Pascoe, later to become the Palace promoter, pips American James King in emotional farewell race.

1983: Steve Cram beats arch rival Steve Ovett in a classic mile encounter.

1985: Mary Slaney outruns Zola Budd in controversial £90,000 3km showdown.

1990: Steve Backley (right) throws further than 90m for new world javelin record.

2002: Dwain Chambers breaks 10sec barrier in 100m – the first Briton to do so here – in beating Tim Montgomery and Maurice Greene.