The latter organisation has claimed that retaining a running track at the stadium, which West Ham United's rival bid proposes, would not provide a useful legacy for the sport, and has instead backed Spurs, who want to redevelop the Crystal Palace athletics stadium and build a dedicated football stadium in the Olympic Park.

UK Athletics, however, strongly favours West Ham's bid, maintaining that London 2012's promise to the International Olympic Committee to maintain athletics at the stadium should be honoured.

It is a position that has been backed by many influential figures within the sport and many leading athletes and ex-athletes.

John Graves, chairman of England Athletics, rejected the ABAC position, adding: "ABAC have no legitimacy - they are a self appointed lobby group whose views cannot be claimed to represent athletics clubs.

"Across Britain there are some 1,500 athletics clubs, only a few percent of whom have any association whatsoever with ABAC."

Graves added: "The Board of England Athletics is elected by our club members and we are unanimous in our support for the need to retain the Olympic track within the Olympic stadium post 2012.

"The ability to inspire a generation of youngsters with the prospect of competing in the Olympic Stadium in England Schools Championships and in England age group championships is an incredibly powerful recruiter for our sport and it is our duty to protect that opportunity for future generations."

John Bicourt, an ABAC officer who competed in the 3,000 metres steeplechase for Britain at the 1972 and 1976 Olympics, maintained: "Saying that there would be a proper athletics legacy merely by keeping the track at the Olympic Stadium is a myth.

"The true reason for those touting the legacy myth is to save face over the wholly unrealistic promises made in Singapore by the Olympic bid team.

"West Ham, should they win the bid, would almost certainly demand the right to remove the track after a few years on the basis that the stadium is barely used for athletics enough to justify keeping it."

Bicourt said the ABAC viewed the Spurs bid as a "realistic alternative" in that it would see the home of British athletics at Crystal Palace rebuilt as a 25,000-seat arena with the possibility of increasing the number of seats to 40,000 if needed.


He added: "There is no point keeping a 60,000-seat stadium for athletics, and in Spurs we have a football club willing to pay for the privilege of knocking it down to build a proper football stadium and a proper athletics stadium."

UK Athletics insisted that almost all top athletes past and present support their stance.

"As the official internationally-recognised governing body for athletics, UKA wholeheartedly supports an Olympic legacy for athletics in the Olympic Stadium as part of a vibrant multi-use facility," a spokesman said.

"Such is the strength of feeling about this issue, some of the biggest names in the sport have spoken out in support of retaining a track.

"These include Usain Bolt, Paula Radcliffe, Steve Cram, Brendan Foster, Michael Johnson and Dame Kelly Holmes.

"Additionally the entire current GB team, led by captain Jessica Ennis, have given their backing to West Ham's bid.

"This is a sport united in its desire to give future generations the opportunity to compete on an Olympic track whether it be at the English Schools Championships or a World Championships."

The Olympic Park Legacy Company is due to make a decision between Tottenham and West Ham's bids this month.

Both have until tomorrow to provide further information on their submissions.

The recommendation will then be passed to the Government and London Mayor.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
February 2011: Exclusive - Tottenham and West Ham should both play at London 2012 Stadium claims Olympic architect
February 2011: Jim Cowan - Is the Olympic Stadium debate about legacy or is it a smokescreen?
January 2011: Orient claim that they are being "steamrollered out of existence" in Olympic Stadium row
January 2011: West Ham unveil images of Olympic Stadium post-London 2012
January 2011: Tottenham Hotspur's Olympic Stadium bid "will stand the test of time" claims leading AEG Europe executive