Athletics chief's fury over legacy for stadium

THE head of world athletics today launched an extraordinary attack on International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge over the legacy of the London Olympic stadium.

Lamine Diack, president of the International Association of Athletics Federations, accused Mr Rogge of a "lack of respect" for his sport for claiming that the athletics track could be removed from the stadium after the Games to prevent it becoming a white elephant.

He said destroying the track would be "totally unacceptable" and endorsed Sebastian Coe's vision to put athletics on the map in the capital after 2012.

Mr Diack, who voted for London to stage the Games, said scrapping the track would break a promise made to him and other IOC members by Lord Coe during the bid.

The track in legacy is problematic because it deters Premier League football clubs who might be potential tenants of the stadium post-2012, as it would keep fans too far from the action. Securing a top club such as West Ham or Tottenham as a tenant would lift the long-term financial burden of the Stratford venue from the Mayor.

Boris Johnson's office is in talks with rugby clubs and Championship football side Leyton Orient, but neither option would guarantee that the venue could pay its way.

Today's outburst by Mr Diack means that two of the most powerful men in world sport are at loggerheads.