Tottenham have hit out at rival bidders West Ham as they unveiled their plans for the Olympic Stadium.

Spurs confirmed that if they won the bid and elected to move from White Hart Lane they would demolish most of the 80,000-seater athletics arena and replace it with a 60,000-capacity purpose-built football venue.

The club said they would also revamp the Crystal Palace athletics stadium to fulfil the legacy commitment made when Great Britain was awarded the 2012 Games.

West Ham are favourites to take over the Olympic Stadium after next year’s Paralympics, with their bid backed by both London 2012 chairman Lord Coe and UK Athletics.

With just over two weeks to go before the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) select their preferred bidder and less than two months before the final decision, Spurs have chosen to hit back after regular attacks from the Hammers.

Spurs’ architect and club vice-president, David Keirle, said: “The debate, such as it is, has been one-sided because we’ve not entered into this. It’s been very ill-informed.”

Keirle, chairman of leading architects KSS, criticised West Ham’s plans to retain the Olympic Stadium at a reduced capacity of 60,000, claiming they risked turning it into something of a white elephant.
No atmosphere

“There’d be nothing worse than, five years down the line, for a failing club not being able to meet its obligations because it’s not getting 60,000, fans saying there’s no atmosphere,” he said, pointing out numerous problems with football being played in athletics stadia.

Keirle insisted Spurs’ purpose-built ground would be far more sustainable and lucrative for the OPLC.

He was also adamant Tottenham’s plans for an athletics legacy were more viable than West Ham’s, claiming the sport would benefit more by the rejuvenation of Crystal Palace than by retaining a 60,000-seater stadium they would struggle to fill and would only have access to outside the football season.

Spurs have promised to boost the capacity of Crystal Palace by 9,500 to 25,000, with the ability for it to be extended by up to 15,000 for a World Championship.

“We think that we will deliver a legacy with athletics at its core, 365 days a year,” Keirle said, revealing the Tottenham also plan other ventures to increase participation in athletics.

The British Olympic Association have confirmed their commitment to the Olympic Stadium athletics track remaining in place after the 2012 Games.

Following a board meeting in London, led by chairman Colin Moynihan, the BOA said in a statement: “The board reaffirmed that it is the position of the BOA that the commitments offered as part of the original London 2012 bid should be honoured; in particular, the commitment to deliver a lasting sports legacy through effective utilisation of Olympic venues following the Games, including retaining an athletics track in the Olympic Stadium.”