London 2012 head Barbara Cassani said that resolving the future of the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, a potential training site of London’s bid for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, could be crucial for its chances of hosting the Games.
The National Sports Centre is locked in a long-running dispute over funding to develop the site between the leaseholders, Sport England, and the local council.
Cassani urged everyone involved to try and “move forward as quickly as they can to resolve this – if not for the people in the area but also for the good of the Olympic bid”.
She also announced that at least 10 London boroughs will stage a competitive event.
Meanwhile, political rivals of London’s mayor Ken Livingstone are challenging his proposal to raise Londoners’ council tax to help fund the Games.
Conservatives say Londoners should not be asked to bear the cost of an event which will benefit the country and the money should come out of the “national purse”.
A proposal to raise the Olympic council tax precept to 550 pounds over 12 years, an extra 20 pounds per person, was discussed at a meeting of the London Assembly Wednesday.
The bid has already been boosted by up to five million pounds in donations in kind from the business community. Reports say that many want to be involved in sponsorship.
Cassani said she would like the business community to be involved in capital financing of certain projects, procurement of land and development of houses during the Games, which could later be sold.
