Government & Mayor of London approve West Ham’s move to Olympic Stadium

Olympic Stadium at Olympic Park

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The decision to hand the Olympic Stadium to West Ham has been approved and is expected to be officially ratified on Thursday by both the government and Mayor of London Boris Johnson.

The move had been recommended by the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) as the Hammers’ bid was most fitting with their plans to keep an athletics tradition in the area after the games.

It is the government and the Mayor that must officially sanction the move, though, as they each are 50 per cent shareholders in the OPLC.

Local government minister Bob Neill said: “The Olympic Park Legacy Company are now able to enter into negotiations with West Ham and Newham Council to agree a lease.

“We are delighted with the progress that has been made and very pleased we have reached this very significant milestone.”

The plans have been welcomed in some quarters, but not in that of Leyton Orient chairman Barry Hearn, who has threatened legal action if the move is ratified.

The Olympic Stadium lies just one mile away from Brisbane Road, the home of Orient, and Hearn feels the loss of support that this will cause could see the end of his club.