Britain’s Evening Standard reports that if London 2012 officials back a proposal to host the opening ceremony in Hyde Park if London becomes the host city for the 2012 Summer Olympic games, it would be an embarrassment.
The newspaper writes that the plans, discussed by the bid’s masterplanners Edaw and east London council chief executives last Friday, fly in the face of Olympic protocol and an International Olympic Committee (IOC) campaign to keep down the costs of future Olympic Games.
It says that the International Olympic Committee would have to rewrite its rules to allow the lighting of the Olympic Flame in Hyde Park, since Opening and Closing Ceremonies traditionally take place in the main Olympic Stadium.
It also contradicts IOC efforts to make sure more venues are shared during the Games, cutting down on the cost.
Also, if the Ceremonies were held in a smaller venue, London could lose out in the revenue generated in a large Olympic stadium.
