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Fri April 19 2024

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Olympic badminton venue canned due to cost-cutting

27 May 10 Plans for the construction of a temporary venue in Greenwich to host badminton and rhythmic gymnastics at the London Olympics have been cancelled due to concerns over costs.

Plans for the construction of a temporary venue in Greenwich to host badminton and rhythmic gymnastics at the London Olympics have been cancelled due to concerns over costs.

Wembley Arena in North London will now host the two sports in 2012.

Badminton and rhythmic gymnastics were originally earmarked for the temporary venue in Greenwich during the bid phase, and the sports' governing bodies had resisted pressure to switch to Wembley due to increased travel times for athletes.

However, the Badminton World Federation and the Federation Internationale de Gymnastique have now agreed to the switch.

Hugh Robertson, minister for sport and the Olympics, said: “I welcome the BWF’s and FIG’s decisions. It is sensible during these difficult economic times to make use of an existing and well established facility.”

Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: "By using one of London's existing world-class venues, we have saved millions of pounds in the 2012 budget."

The Wembley agreement is expected to save the London 2012 organisers around £30m.

Earlier this week, they were told to find £27m of savings by the new Conservative / Liberal Democrat government.

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