As the International Association of Athletics Federations' (IAAF) Evaluation Committee completed their visit to Doha - London's only competitor for the 2017 World Athletics Championships - Robertson said Tottenham were wasting their time now that cast-iron guarantees have been given to retain the running track that the north London club were so eager to remove.

Spurs have been offered a £17 million ($26 million/€20 million) package by London Mayor Boris Johnson to persuade them to spend £250 million ($388 million/€289 million) of their own money on building a 56,000 capacity stadium next to their current ground in exchange for dropping the option of a move to Stratford and challenging the process by which West Ham were granted permission to take over the Olympic venue.

Spurs insist on keeping those options open but Robertson clearly wants a solution before a High Court date on October 18 when the judicial review is due to be heard.

All the North London club were doing by pursuing their Stratford bid was undermining London's chances of securing the World Athletics Championships, Robertson said, declaring that a judicial review "sits like a spectre behind our World Championship bid".

Now that the running track would definitely stay, he said, "Ultimately what they are doing is now without any point.

"We have given guarantees to the IAAF that the Stadium will be available for the 2017 World Championships.

"The head of the Evaluation Committee [IAAF vice-president] Bob Hersh now regards the issue as 'resolved'.

"Bizarrely, the Championships have never come to this country before.

"They bring in their wake £100 million to boost London's economy."


Robertson (pictured above in the Olympic Stadium with London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe) made the point of praising Tottenham's community programme but is increasingly irritated by their insistence on clinging on to Stratford, with time running out before the judicial hearing.

"Tottenham deserve enormous credit to come out after the riots and say it is now their intention to redevelop in situ," he said.

"Given they have made this commitment and we have bid for the world championships, I wish the judicial review could be taken out of the way.

"It gives our opponents something to whistle in the wings about and I'd much rather than didn't happen.

"There would have been some arguable point to keep the judicial review to bring the Mayor and the London Borough of Haringey to the table.

"But they have made a full and final offer and will not move forward."

Robertson was also asked about the ongoing dispute over an all-British Olympic football team which he conceded was now only "probably about 50-50".

"Everyone gets involved in the politics and tends to forget that the opportunity to represent your country at a home Olympics comes round very rarely," he said.

"It would be a crying shame if young athletes, particularly female athletes, are denied that opportunity."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
October 2011: IAAF Evaluation Commission claim they are "reassured" over Olympic Stadium guarantees
October 2011: IAAF Evaluation Commission given "cast-iron guarantee" track will remain at Olympic Stadium
October 2011: Exclusive - "Athletics will stay in Olympic Stadium" head of Legacy Company to guarantee IAAF
September 2011: Exclusive - "We will show off Olympic Stadium in all its glory" promises Coe
September 2011: Exclusive - The "country can be proud" of what we are planning for Olympic Stadium claims Newham Mayor