Olympics temporary venue plans to be ditched

David Quainton, 13 October 2009

Event industry companies hoping to win the right to build or host events at one of the London 2012 temporary venues have had their Olympics dreams dashed today, after a deal made it almost certain that badminton and rhythmic gymnastics will move to Wembley Arena.

The BBC reported earlier today (13 October) that Olympics minister Tessa Jowell and London mayor Boris Johnson held a breakfast meeting this morning about the badminton and rhythmic gymnastics venue.

At the meeting both decided to support the Wembley Arena plans, as well as plans to keep shooting events in Woolwich rather than move to the east London borough of Barking.

The meeting comes days after the International Olympic Committee said it was concerned that no actual venue had been confirmed for the sports. In the original plans for London 2012, a temporary venue was to be built near the O2 (or NGA1), but moving it to Wembley could save up to £20m.

Temporary venue specialists and event organisers, who had hoped to use the venue before and after the Olympics for corporate events, will be disappointed by the news.

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