Paralympics 'will pay its way' in 2012

The British Olympic Association will not lose money because of the Paralympics but its cash row with London 2012 organisers risks undermining the vision for the Games, the International Paralympic Committee said yesterday.

The dispute, over how profits are calculated after the Games, has been taken by the BOA to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and threatens to overshadow an International Olympic Committee inspection visit next week.

The BOA has sought 20 per cent of any surplus from the Games before the costs of the Paralympics are taken into account. IPC chief executive Xavier Gonzalez rejected fears that the Paralympics would make heavy losses and lead to reduced payments. "They will cover their own specific costs," he said.