How "surprising" to read that football, that bastion of ethics and philanthropy, has mired itself in yet another scandal, this time involving the Olympics stadium.
The Telegraph reports that a second man has been arrested in connection with police investigations over the Tottenham Hotspur bid to use the stadium after next year's Olympic games.
The arrest follows allegations that investigators working for Tottenham
Hotspur illegally obtained private telephone and banking
records during the stadium-bidding process.
Spurs deny this.
The arrest comes on top of reports that accountants PKF, the company hired by
Tottenham to carry out investigations during the Olympic Stadium bid,
have admitted passing on copies of Karren Brady’s illegally obtained telephone
records to The Sunday Times.
Allegations of corruption in football and sport, who would have thought it?
I dare say the white elephant of the stadium can be used as a prison after the games, if anyone is found guilty of these allegations.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
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Showing posts with label tottenham hotspur. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tottenham hotspur. Show all posts
Friday, November 18, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
The Spying Game
How interesting, it seems that a man has been arrested
over claims that London 2012 executives were put under surveillance by Tottenham Hotspur FC.
Baroness Ford, Chairman of the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) told the London Assembly that all 14 OPLC board members had been spied on.
Baroness Ford told the London Assembly (as per the BBC):
"My board were put under surveillance by Tottenham Hotspur and the chairman of Tottenham Hotspur felt confident enough to say that in the Sunday Times several months ago, that all 14 members of my board were put under surveillance.
The Metropolitan Police are now conducting an investigation into that surveillance.
There has been all kinds of behaviour here that I could not have anticipated which, believe me, has not been pleasant in the last 12 months.
I'm expecting the unexpected because that's what the last 12 months has told me.
Our job now is to narrow, as far as we possibly can, the scope now for legitimate legal challenge in this next process. That is all that we can do.
If people want then to be vexatious, frivolous and vindictive or whatever they want, they will do that."
Dirty tricks involving football and sport?
Never!!
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.olympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Baroness Ford, Chairman of the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) told the London Assembly that all 14 OPLC board members had been spied on.
Baroness Ford told the London Assembly (as per the BBC):
"My board were put under surveillance by Tottenham Hotspur and the chairman of Tottenham Hotspur felt confident enough to say that in the Sunday Times several months ago, that all 14 members of my board were put under surveillance.
The Metropolitan Police are now conducting an investigation into that surveillance.
There has been all kinds of behaviour here that I could not have anticipated which, believe me, has not been pleasant in the last 12 months.
I'm expecting the unexpected because that's what the last 12 months has told me.
Our job now is to narrow, as far as we possibly can, the scope now for legitimate legal challenge in this next process. That is all that we can do.
If people want then to be vexatious, frivolous and vindictive or whatever they want, they will do that."
Dirty tricks involving football and sport?
Never!!
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.olympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Stadium Deal Collapses
West Ham United's deal to take over the Olympic Stadium in Stratford has collapsed.
The stadium will remain in public ownership after the games, and be leased out to a tenant following a new tender process.
The cost of transforming it after the 2012 Games will be met by the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC).
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.olympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
The stadium will remain in public ownership after the games, and be leased out to a tenant following a new tender process.
The cost of transforming it after the 2012 Games will be met by the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC).
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.olympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Spurs Granted Judicial Review
The High Court have granted Tottenham Hotspur permission to ask for a judicial review into the awarding of ownership of the Olympic Stadium to West Ham after London 2012.
Mr Justice Collins, a High Court judge, ruled there are sufficient grounds for a review into the process by which West Ham were unanimously chosen as the preferred bidder to take over stewardship of the arena by the Olympic Park Legacy Committee (OPLC).
The hearing will take place in the High Court on October 18.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Mr Justice Collins, a High Court judge, ruled there are sufficient grounds for a review into the process by which West Ham were unanimously chosen as the preferred bidder to take over stewardship of the arena by the Olympic Park Legacy Committee (OPLC).
The hearing will take place in the High Court on October 18.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Monday, August 22, 2011
Stadium Decision Upheld
The BBC reports that an independent investigation by Moore Stephens has upheld the decision to award West Ham the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Games.
The review concluded that there is no reason to re-open the bidding process.
However, irrespective of the outcome of the review, it appears that Spurs still want a judicial review and are due to present evidence at an oral hearing at the High Court on Wednesday.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
The review concluded that there is no reason to re-open the bidding process.
However, irrespective of the outcome of the review, it appears that Spurs still want a judicial review and are due to present evidence at an oral hearing at the High Court on Wednesday.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Monday, July 4, 2011
Another Court Case
The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) has revealed that it has suspended Dionne Knight, the OPLC's director of corporate services, who has been undertaking paid consultancy work for West Ham United.
Why does this matter?
It matters because West Ham were selected by OPLC to have the stadium after the games, against competition from Tottenham Hotspur.
Ironically, according to the Telegraph, Knight also previously worked for Newham Council, West Ham's partner in the stadium bid.
West Ham are not best pleased with the media slant and insinuations, and have launched legal action against Tottenham Hotspur and the Sunday Times over claims of the "secret" payments.
The concept of "secret cash payments" relating to football is hardly new, if FIFA's soiled reputation is anything to go by. However, if West Ham have been unfairly maligned they are right fight for their reputation. That being said, they should bear in mind that it is not just the "legal susbtsance" of these payments but how they look to everyone else that have done the damage.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Why does this matter?
It matters because West Ham were selected by OPLC to have the stadium after the games, against competition from Tottenham Hotspur.
Ironically, according to the Telegraph, Knight also previously worked for Newham Council, West Ham's partner in the stadium bid.
West Ham are not best pleased with the media slant and insinuations, and have launched legal action against Tottenham Hotspur and the Sunday Times over claims of the "secret" payments.
The concept of "secret cash payments" relating to football is hardly new, if FIFA's soiled reputation is anything to go by. However, if West Ham have been unfairly maligned they are right fight for their reputation. That being said, they should bear in mind that it is not just the "legal susbtsance" of these payments but how they look to everyone else that have done the damage.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Spurs Fight On
The BBC reports that, despite having their appeal rejected last week, Tottenham will return to the High Court for an oral hearing for a judicial review of the decision to award the Olympic Stadium to West Ham.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
The Legacy of Failure
In 2007 I wrote the following:
"The London ODA continues to heap embarrassment and opprobrium upon itself, not content with allowing the budget to run out of control and not even being able to set a firm price for the stadium, they have now managed to attract derision and scorn for the lousy design of the 2012 London Olympics stadium.
The design was revealed yesterday, with all the usual hype and pr spin usually reserved for a third world dictatorship.
The result?
A very predictable damp squib.
A boring oval shaped stadium that has no defining features of beauty or originality, and worse it will have to down size from a capacity of 80,000 during the games to 25,000 afterwards.
Why?
Simple, there is no need for a stadium in that part of London. At best it will used, maybe, by a football club."
Today the Telegraph states that "the London Olympic board was warned by its own advisers more than three years ago that a Premier League football club would be incompatible with athletics if a permanent track was retained in the main stadium".
In other words, the "legacy" of athletics stadium and football stadium suits no one.
However, there is some light at the end of the tunnel. The fact that West Ham have been relegated from the Premiership, means that they no longer fit the criteria of a "premier League club" as defined by the report.
Problem solved!
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
"The London ODA continues to heap embarrassment and opprobrium upon itself, not content with allowing the budget to run out of control and not even being able to set a firm price for the stadium, they have now managed to attract derision and scorn for the lousy design of the 2012 London Olympics stadium.
The design was revealed yesterday, with all the usual hype and pr spin usually reserved for a third world dictatorship.
The result?
A very predictable damp squib.
A boring oval shaped stadium that has no defining features of beauty or originality, and worse it will have to down size from a capacity of 80,000 during the games to 25,000 afterwards.
Why?
Simple, there is no need for a stadium in that part of London. At best it will used, maybe, by a football club."
Today the Telegraph states that "the London Olympic board was warned by its own advisers more than three years ago that a Premier League football club would be incompatible with athletics if a permanent track was retained in the main stadium".
In other words, the "legacy" of athletics stadium and football stadium suits no one.
However, there is some light at the end of the tunnel. The fact that West Ham have been relegated from the Premiership, means that they no longer fit the criteria of a "premier League club" as defined by the report.
Problem solved!
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
West Ham Committed
It seems that there are some cynics who doubt West Ham's ability/willingness to takeover the Olympic stadium after the 2012 games.
They cite West Ham's fragile finances and its relegation from the Premier League.
However, West Ham claim to remain committed.
The Telegraph states that whatever the impact of demotion on the club's finances, it will not changes plans to make the £486M stadium their new home after the London 2012 Games.
"We remain totally committed to it. Our target is to move there in three football seasons time and we would hope that we would return to the Premier League as soon as possible."
No problem then.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
They cite West Ham's fragile finances and its relegation from the Premier League.
However, West Ham claim to remain committed.
The Telegraph states that whatever the impact of demotion on the club's finances, it will not changes plans to make the £486M stadium their new home after the London 2012 Games.
"We remain totally committed to it. Our target is to move there in three football seasons time and we would hope that we would return to the Premier League as soon as possible."
No problem then.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Spurs Fights On
In February West Ham won the approval of the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) for taking over the Olympic stadium after the 2012 games.
However, Tottenham Hotspur their rivals for the stadium were not happy and last month launched an application for a judicial review into Newham Council's role in arranging a £40M loan to finance West Ham's move to the stadium.
The Telegraph reports that Spurs have taken further action and have asked the High Court to start a separate judicial review into the roles of several other key parties involved in awarding West Ham the stadium.
A Tottenham statement read:
"The club has today sought permission from the High Court to bring a claim against the Olympic Park Legacy Company Limited, the Mayor of London, the Minister for Sport and the Olympics and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for judicial review of a series of decisions made by them to appoint a joint bid by the London Borough of Newham and West Ham United Football Club as preferred bidder in a competition for the lease of the Olympic Stadium.
As previously reported, the club continues to hold discussions with both local and national government bodies in order to seek to agree a feasible stadium solution."
Sour grapes, or is this equivalent to the FIFA scandal now developing?
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
However, Tottenham Hotspur their rivals for the stadium were not happy and last month launched an application for a judicial review into Newham Council's role in arranging a £40M loan to finance West Ham's move to the stadium.
The Telegraph reports that Spurs have taken further action and have asked the High Court to start a separate judicial review into the roles of several other key parties involved in awarding West Ham the stadium.
A Tottenham statement read:
"The club has today sought permission from the High Court to bring a claim against the Olympic Park Legacy Company Limited, the Mayor of London, the Minister for Sport and the Olympics and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for judicial review of a series of decisions made by them to appoint a joint bid by the London Borough of Newham and West Ham United Football Club as preferred bidder in a competition for the lease of the Olympic Stadium.
As previously reported, the club continues to hold discussions with both local and national government bodies in order to seek to agree a feasible stadium solution."
Sour grapes, or is this equivalent to the FIFA scandal now developing?
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.com
www.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Thursday, February 10, 2011
It's Hammer Time
It would seem that the increasingly vitriolic and acrimonious battle between Spurs and West Ham, for control of the Olympic stadium post 2012 Olympics, has been resolved.
West Ham United are expected to be recommended as the preferred bidder for the Olympic Stadium on Friday, when the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) will meet.
Seemingly Spurs' plans to rip up the athletics track, thus denying any form of athletics legacy as promised in the original bid for the games, was a step too far.
Once OPLC ratify the bid, it will then pass to London mayor Boris Johnson and government ministers Jeremy Hunt and Eric Pickles for final approval.
As to whether a combined track and football stadium is actually economically viable, only time will tell. Once the economic success/failure of the Hammers' legacy is actually known, those who have made the decisions and backed the bid will have long since moved on.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
West Ham United are expected to be recommended as the preferred bidder for the Olympic Stadium on Friday, when the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) will meet.
Seemingly Spurs' plans to rip up the athletics track, thus denying any form of athletics legacy as promised in the original bid for the games, was a step too far.
Once OPLC ratify the bid, it will then pass to London mayor Boris Johnson and government ministers Jeremy Hunt and Eric Pickles for final approval.
As to whether a combined track and football stadium is actually economically viable, only time will tell. Once the economic success/failure of the Hammers' legacy is actually known, those who have made the decisions and backed the bid will have long since moved on.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.comwww.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Thursday, January 27, 2011
The Stadium Debacle
Despite Lord Coe chastising the Spurs bid for the post Olympics stadium and, seemingly, coming out in favour of West Ham's bid (on the basis that they will leave some form of athletics legacy) it is interesting to note that 18 months after winning the bid to host the games the Olympic Board had in fact rejected both clubs.
The Telegraph reports that both bids were rejected at the time, because the Board wanted no diminution of the athletics "legacy".
Time and financial reality often crush naive dreams, and it seems now that the Board will have to accept a bid from one of these two football clubs.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
The Telegraph reports that both bids were rejected at the time, because the Board wanted no diminution of the athletics "legacy".
Time and financial reality often crush naive dreams, and it seems now that the Board will have to accept a bid from one of these two football clubs.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.comwww.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Stadium Decision Delayed
A decision on the future use of the 2012 Olympic stadium, and which football club (Spurs or West Ham) is entrusted with the stadium, has been postponed from this Friday.
The Olympic Park Legacy Company claims that it needs more time to study rival bids from the two clubs.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
The Olympic Park Legacy Company claims that it needs more time to study rival bids from the two clubs.
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.comwww.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Monday, January 24, 2011
The White Elephant
Lord Coe, Chairman of the 2012 London Olympics, has come out against Tottenham's plans to take over the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Olympic Games.
Lord Coe does not like the idea that Tottenham, if successful in their bid, would knock the stadium down and replace it with one more suitable for football. The problem being that when the UK made the bid for the Olympics, the bid team promised that the stadium would be used for athletics after the event (ie that there would be a sporting legacy).
The other bidder, seemingly preferred by Lord Coe et al, is West Ham (who claim that they will allow athletics events to be hosted there).
The question is, aside from the PR headlines that the battle between these two clubs is generating, are the clubs really sure that they want to own a stadium based in East Stratford (ie move their team and fans there)?
Could it be that these two bids may actually fizzle out when people actually realise the consequences of buying this white elephant?
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Lord Coe does not like the idea that Tottenham, if successful in their bid, would knock the stadium down and replace it with one more suitable for football. The problem being that when the UK made the bid for the Olympics, the bid team promised that the stadium would be used for athletics after the event (ie that there would be a sporting legacy).
The other bidder, seemingly preferred by Lord Coe et al, is West Ham (who claim that they will allow athletics events to be hosted there).
The question is, aside from the PR headlines that the battle between these two clubs is generating, are the clubs really sure that they want to own a stadium based in East Stratford (ie move their team and fans there)?
Could it be that these two bids may actually fizzle out when people actually realise the consequences of buying this white elephant?
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.comwww.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Spurs Bid "Completely Unacceptable"
The Chairman of UK Athletics (UKA), Ed Warner, has lashed out at Tottenham Hotspur's bid for the Olympic Stadium post London Olympics 2012.
Spurs with their bidding partner, AEG, have been named as one of the preferred bidders. However, if they win, they plan to remove the athletics track and turn the stadium into a mecca for the "god of football".
All very well, maybe. However, when the London Olympics organisers bid for the games in 2005 they made a "promise" (how these things tend to be "forgotten" with the passage of time) to leave a legacy of an athletics track.
Ed Warner hasn't forgotten that promise, and has told the BBC:
"It is [essential] for Tottenham and AEG to go back to the original promise made in 2005.
That was about UK Athletics being at the heart of the Olympic Park...
Anything they might propose for an athletics legacy has to be a compromise to the stadium continuing to operate at a world-class level. To my mind that is completely unacceptable."
The question is will money override fairweather promises?
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Spurs with their bidding partner, AEG, have been named as one of the preferred bidders. However, if they win, they plan to remove the athletics track and turn the stadium into a mecca for the "god of football".
All very well, maybe. However, when the London Olympics organisers bid for the games in 2005 they made a "promise" (how these things tend to be "forgotten" with the passage of time) to leave a legacy of an athletics track.
Ed Warner hasn't forgotten that promise, and has told the BBC:
"It is [essential] for Tottenham and AEG to go back to the original promise made in 2005.
That was about UK Athletics being at the heart of the Olympic Park...
Anything they might propose for an athletics legacy has to be a compromise to the stadium continuing to operate at a world-class level. To my mind that is completely unacceptable."
The question is will money override fairweather promises?
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.comwww.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Legacy Matters
Charlie Wijeratna, London 2012's director of commercial negotiations, is leaving to join Tottenham Hotspur in December as Executive Director with commercial responsibilities.
Ironically Spurs are one of the bidders for the £550M Olympic Stadium. In the event that they win the bid, they intend to scrap the running track after London 2012 (a legacy running track had been one of the pledges made by the Olympics bid team).
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Ironically Spurs are one of the bidders for the £550M Olympic Stadium. In the event that they win the bid, they intend to scrap the running track after London 2012 (a legacy running track had been one of the pledges made by the Olympics bid team).
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.comwww.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Legacy Matters
Tottenham Hotspurs' recent bid to move into the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 games has one rather significant problem, it does not include any provision for an athletics track.
Spurs do not want a track, because it will detract from having a "perfect" football stadium.
All very well, maybe. However, London 2012 won its Olympic bid on the basis of a promise to the International Olympic Committee that part of the legacy of the games would be an athletics track capable of staging major events.
Who will blink first?
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Spurs do not want a track, because it will detract from having a "perfect" football stadium.
All very well, maybe. However, London 2012 won its Olympic bid on the basis of a promise to the International Olympic Committee that part of the legacy of the games would be an athletics track capable of staging major events.
Who will blink first?
Olympic Medals won during the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Don't forget to visit www.theolympicswarehouse.comwww.olympicsdiary.com brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"
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