Spurs' stadium bid 'goes against Olympic legacy'

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The head of UK Athletics has branded as "completely unacceptable" Tottenham's plan to remove the running track from the Olympic Stadium, should Spurs win the bidding process to use the site after the 2012 Games. Spurs' bid, in conjunction with promoters AEG, is on a shortlist of two against a consortium led by West Ham United and Newham Council.

UK Athletics has already formally backed West Ham's bid and its chairman, Ed Warner, said: "Tottenham and AEG have made it clear that they will rip up the track and make it a football-only venue, and that is hugely concerning to me. It is [essential] for Tottenham and AEG to go back to the original promise made in 2005 [by Lord Coe as part of the Olympic bid]... about UK Athletics being at the heart of the Olympic Park."

Spurs' plan is for a 80,000-seat football venue, while West Ham are planning a capacity of 60,000 for football and athletics, plus community use.

UK Athletics has already withdrawn a bid to host the 2015 world championships as a result of the uncertainty. Warner added: "The greatest city in the world deserves a facility capable of hosting major athletics events. That is the legacy we need from the Games for our sport."