Olympic stadium builders announced as Spurs reject move (From This Is Local London)

Olympic stadium builders announced as Spurs reject move

7:38am Saturday 14th October 2006

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THE builders of Arsenal's new Emirates Stadium look set to construct the main stadium for the London 2012 Olympics.

The announcement comes as Arsenal's cross town rivals Tottenham Hotspur ruled out moving into the Olympics stadium after the Games.

Olympics organisers announced today they had entered into negotiations with the Team McAlpine Consortium, with a view to appointing them in the New Year.

The UK consortium was chosen after its submission was the only one to meet all of the Olympic Delivery Authority's prequalification criteria.

The 80,000 seat stadium - which will host track and field events plus the opening and closing ceremonies - will reportedly cost up to £400 million.

The consortium was behind the hugely successful Arsenal home ground which opened on time and on budget earlier this year and the main stadium at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

ODA chief executive David Higgins said: "The Olympic Stadium will be the centerpiece of the Olympic Park and we will deliver an outstanding venue for the Games with a post-Games legacy of which the UK can be truly proud.

"As you would expect, we have robust contingency plans in place should negotiations with Team McAlpine not conclude.

"We will also be putting in place appropriate cost controls to ensure that budgets are managed properly and that value for money is achieved."

The ODA have yet to decide how the stadium will be used after the Games, but the leading option would be to transform from it into a football stadium with a reduced capacity.

However, it was reported today that Tottenham had ruled out a move to the stadium.

Spurs sporting director told the Evening Standard: "The way it's going with the Olympic Stadium they are going to keep the running track so there is no way we are even going to look into moving there.

"I travel around the world all year long and every ground that has a running track in the stadium has poor atmosphere, the attendance is down and all clubs say it was a mistake to play there.

"It could have been an option but not any more."

Earlier this week it was announced that the 2012 Olympics would be powered by a giant wind turbine which would tower over the game park in East London.

The 120-metre high turbine will stay on the site after the Games to power local amenities and housing over its 20-year lifespan.

Located at Eton Manor in the north of the Olympic Park, it will provide enough energy to supply 1,200 homes a year.

Construction is set to begin in Spring 2008, subject to planning permission, and the Olympic Delivery Authority hopes it will be fully operational by 2010.

The ODA said it would be a visible symbol of London 2012's commitment to staging the most sustainable Olympic Games ever.

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