West Ham Urged to Show 'Heart and Soul' for London 2029 World Athletics Bid
The head of the London Marathon is pressuring West Ham soccer team to allow their stadium to be used for London's bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships. West Ham would need to give up their stadium for two weeks, and their reluctance could derail Britain's chances of winning the bid.
London's bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships has hit a snag because West Ham soccer club won't commit to giving up their stadium for the event. The team would need to vacate the London Stadium for two weeks in September 2029.
The London Marathon's leader is urging West Ham to show more "heart and soul" in supporting the bid. Olympic 800-meter champion Keely Hodgkinson has also joined the pressure campaign, joking that "the GB team will bring back more medals to that stadium than West Ham have seen in their entire history."
Sebastian Coe, a top athletics official, warned in March that West Ham's refusal could completely block London's bid. The stadium dispute has become a public relations problem for the soccer team.
London is considered the front-runner to win hosting rights, but the bid depends on having a suitable venue. The London Stadium, built for the 2012 Olympics, is the natural choice for the athletics championships.
London is the favorite to win the 2029 World Athletics Championships, which would bring thousands of visitors and millions in tourism money to the city. If West Ham blocks stadium access, Britain could lose this major international sporting event to another country.
Talks between organizers and West Ham are planned for June, which could provide a breakthrough on the stadium issue.
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