Friday, September 4, 2009

World Cup bid eyes Olympic venue


The 2012 London Olympic Stadium could be used as part of the bid for England to host the 2018 World Cup.

The 'London United' group proposes Wembley, the Emirates, Tottenham's planned new ground and the Olympic Stadium in Stratford should host games.

"The stadium and Olympic Park would strengthen the bid in a whole variety of ways," said Simon Greenberg, chairman of London United.

"That includes the legacy aspect as one of the world's most modern stadia."

There has long been debate about what should be done with the stadium, which will include an athletics track, after the Games, with the future of the track and the seating capacity undecided at the moment.
London Mayor Boris Johnson said it would be "foolish" not to consider the stadium as part of the World Cup bid, but three years ago when there was talk of the venue being used as a football stadium, his predecessor Ken Livingston said there was a "legally binding contract, more like an international treaty" that it was to be used for athletics.

"(Being in the World Cup bid) is clearly subject to a final decision to be made about its capacity - but that decision is likely to post-date our final proposal," added Greenberg.

"It would also compliment the other stadiums in London, which are among the best in the world. Overall, it is a natural to be included in our proposal."

Fifa rules state any ground hoping to host World Cup group matches must have a minimum capacity of 40,000, and 60,000 for quarter-finals and beyond.

The England 2018 bid team will not make a final decision on its list of preferred venues until December, after the applicant cities - Birmingham, Bristol, Derby, Hull, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Newcastle/Gateshead, Nottingham, Plymouth, Sheffield and Sunderland - have made their final round of presentations to the Football Association.

They will then select between 12 and 18 match venues as part of their final bid which will be made to Fifa ahead of the vote in December 2010.



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