(ATR) - One of London 2012’s most iconic venues is at the center of a $380 million legal row that has also ensnared HOK Sport, the architects working on the Olympic Stadium itself at Stratford.
The $1 billion reconstructed Wembley Stadium, built on the site of the 1948 Olympic venue in northwest London, was a vexatious project from its beginnings in the 1980s. Now, nearly two years after it first opened, it is the cause of the biggest High Court claim in British construction history.
The problems surrounding the Wembley project, built with cash from government-funded sports councils and run by England’s Football Association, and its costly over-runs have often been given as reasons for the Olympic Development Authority's difficulties in finding willing developers to work on 2012 projects.
Brookfield-Multiplex, Wembley’s Australian contractors who were also behind the Sydney Olympic Stadium build, have lodged the claim in London against Mott MacDonald, the stadium’s design engineers.
Wembley National Stadium Limited (WNSL), the company which operates the venue for the FA, had previously received an out-of-court settlement from Multiplex after the stadium opened in 2007 – 12 months later than planned.
Multiplex successfully counter-claimed because of design changes required by their client. Now, as well as suing Mott, Multiplex is also pursuing a legal case against the architects Foster & Partners and HOK in a related action. Multiplex has demanded “access to personnel… to enable [Multiplex] to carry out a full and systematic review of the services.”
HOK declined to comment on whether these legal demands might impact its work on the Olympic venues.
B&Q's Sponsorship of BOA Expires
The sponsorship agreement between B&Q, Europe’s largest chain of DIY stores, and the British Olympic Association has come to an end.
Since 2004 “Team B&Q” has offered part-time, flexible working terms to athletes and Paralympians, providing opportunities to supplement training grants while continuing training.
“We enjoyed great internal, motivational success through our partnership with Team GB, but decided not to continue the partnership past the contractual end date of Dec. 31, 2008,” a B&Q spokesman said.
B&Q is run by the Kingfisher group, which previously owned the Woolworth’s high street department store chain. Woolworth’s closed down last week after 99 years of trading.
Edwards Axed as Boxing Coach
The least well-kept secret in British Olympic sport – the axing of Terry Edwards as head coach of the national amateur boxing squad – was confirmed Monday, to widespread outrage among the boxers.
Beijing middleweight gold medalist James DeGale described the decision by the British Amateur Boxing Association as “utter madness," after 65-year-old Edwards oversaw the best British Olympic boxing performance for more than a century, his team winning one gold and two bronze medals.
Kevin Hickey, 67, Britain’s Olympic boxing coach in the 1980s and until recently a member of the BOA’s performance staff, was appointed BABA performance director last month.
“This is terrible, utter madness, especially after what Terry did for us in Beijing,” said DeGale, who last month turned professional, citing differences with BABA. “It only confirms my view that those who run the sport are idiots. Our hopes of medals in 2012 have gone right downhill.”
NBA Boost for British Basketball
The NBA is seeking to develop basketball in the U.K., a move which British Basketball is confident will enhance its teams’ prospects in 2012.
Alistair Grey, chairman of British Basketball, says that negotiations continue for a match involving the Chicago Bulls at The O2, a 2012 Olympic venue.
The NBA is also helping with arrangements for an annual international tournament at the Greenwich Peninsula dome for 2010.
LOCOG Issues Key Advertising Tender
London 2012 has begun its search for a marketing and advertising agency. For the handover period from Beijing, LOCOG worked with Chime Communications, which picked up a 12-month contract a year ago.
The pitch process will be overseen by London 2012 commercial director Chris Townsend and LOCOG head of brand and marketing Amanda Jennings. The winning agency will also be tasked with ticket marketing and the development of a creative identity and look for the 2012 Games.
“The next three-and-a-half years will see LOCOG’s marketing and communications come to the fore. In that time we will launch our sport pictograms, reveal our mascots, retail stores and the online shop will be designed,” Townsend said.
The announcement of the tender process, with bids to be submitted by Jan. 22, comes in the week that London reaches the halfway mark between winning its bid in July 2005 and the Games opening in 2012.
Olympic Rail Tunnel Opens Early
A vital transport route to the Olympic Park from south London and the counties of Surrey, Kent and Sussex was opened Monday – two months ahead of schedule.
The $270 million Docklands Light Railway extension runs under the River Thames from a new Woolwich Arsenal station – close to the proposed venue for 2012 shooting events.
Cutting the ceremonial ribbon, London Mayor Boris Johnson said: “I'm absolutely delighted that this extension with its cracking new station is up and running… The extension will also play an important role in the Olympic transport network. People in this part of London will now be just a 24-minute hop, skip and a jump away from the Olympic site.”
Fison Appointed to ODA Board
Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell has appointed David Fison, the former chief executive of Skanska UK Plc, as a member of the Olympic Delivery Authority. Fison previously held senior management positions at construction firm Balfour Beatty.
Jowell has reappointed the other 11 board members, apart from Peter Mason, who has stepped down to concentrate on his other business interests. The posts--which are contracted until September 2012--are part time, two days per month, and pay $14,500 per year plus expenses.
Kids to Design Olympic Coin
Viewers of Britain’s longest running children’s television program will compete to design a 50 pence coin for the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. Blue Peter, the BBC show, launches the competition this week.
The winner, aged between 6 and 12, will become the first child to have their design used on a British coin in circulation once it is pressed by the Royal Mint in 2010.
The coin will have the bust of the Queen on the “heads” side, while the design competition prohibits the use of the Olympic rings or a recognizable person on the “tails” side. Queen Elizabeth II will provide the final approval of the design for use.
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Written by Steven Downes
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