IAAF concerned over London Olympic stadium use

LONDON, Oct 22 (Reuters) British Sports Minister Richard Caborn's remarks that London's 2012 Olympic stadium could be used as a soccer stadium after the Games have alarmed the IAAF, the governing body of world athletics.

IAAF vice-president Arne Ljungqvist told the Mail on Sunday it was his understanding that an athletics stadium would be part of the legacy of London's winning bid.

''It was my impression that we would have an athletics stadium after the Games,'' Ljungqvist was quoted as saying. ''On my part, I would be very disappointed if that were not the case.

''I take what was said as promises. It is always an unpleasant discovery if, as time goes by, the infrastructure is different from the bid.'' London Olympic chiefs have said the 80,000-seat stadium in east London would continue to be used for athletics after the Games but with a capacity reduced to 25,000.

The charitable arm of the London Marathon, one of the backers of the stadium project, has also expressed concern at the prospect of it being used by a soccer club.

''I don't see how it would be a major advantage to have a football club as anchor tenant in this stadium,'' said Nick Bitel, the London Marathon chief executive.

''Although we have not been asked about it yet, it is unlikely we would wish to provide funding.'' Caborn suggested this week that Premier League club West Ham United were in talks about moving into the Olympic stadium.

London 2012 have distanced themselves from Caborn's remarks with director of communications Jackie Brock-Doyle quoted in the Mail on Sunday as saying: ''We want to stage a Games and leave a legacy for athletics.

''If other sports are interested than they need to speak to us and nothing is ruled out. But any other sport would have to accommodate athletics.'' REUTERS PDS RAI0625