A “positive meeting” on Wednesday between Tower Hamlets mayor Lutfur Raham and the LOCOG chief executive, Paul Deighton, seems to have ensured the marathon will now follow a circuit through central London, ending in The Mall.
The council had already started legal proceedings to seek a judicial review into LOCOG’s decision to alter the route of the marathon, which was originally due to pass through Tower Hamlets en route to the Olympic Stadium in Stratford.
LOCOG has refused to back down over the route change, insisting the decision was “fair and legal” and that it was taken for operational reasons, including security. But, to avoid a damaging legal wrangle, it is understood to have offered the council a series of other “celebratory events” in the run-up to the Games to compensate it for the loss of the marathon.
After the talks, the council said it was now awaiting a formal proposal from LOCOG about the ways it will be involved in the Games.
A council spokesman said: “It was a really positive meeting. We’re always keen to talk to LOCOG and we look forward to have a formal response on any proposals they are looking to bring us.”
The council, which had already lost the walk and basketball events at the 2012 Olympics, was furious at the marathon route change and was seeking a judicial review on the grounds that, although LOCOG is a private company, it had public functions. It said it had received advice from a leading QC that it had a strong legal case.
LOCOG was equally confident that a judicial review was not applicable but was anxious to avoid a high-profile falling-out with one of its key host boroughs.
A LOCOG spokeswoman said: “We recognise the disappointment in Tower Hamlets and will continue our efforts to talk to Tower Hamlets Council and develop a proposal which makes sure the borough benefits from London 2012.
“Although moving the finish of the marathon was a very tough decision for us to take, we believe it was the right decision, and the process we undertook was comprehensive, fair and legal.
“As a private company, we do not believe judicial review is the right response to this decision and our aim is to work constructively with the council to do everything we can to make sure the borough makes the most of London 2012.”[Van Commenee quotes are just for newspapers so please don’t put this online until late tonight. You already have an online version]
UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee, who has been a constant critic of the strength of women’s field athletes at his disposal, has welcomed the decision of world-class long jumper Shara Proctor to switch her allegiance from Anguilla to Britain.
The 22 year-old finished sixth at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin with a lifetime best of 6.71 metres, and Van Commenee said: “She’s a high-calibre athlete. We are not strong in women’s field events at the moment. The fact that Shara has decided to represent Britain from now on will make the team stronger.”
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