'Stadium prevarication a betrayal'
John Inverdale criticised the decision not to reopen the Olympic Stadium until at least 2015
Sports commentator John Inverdale has branded the situation with the Olympic Stadium an "absolute disgrace" and warned that time is running out to create a lasting Olympic legacy.
The veteran BBC broadcaster, who fronted the Corporation's rowing coverage of London 2012, made the comments at a conference on Thursday morning.
"It is very well saying 'wasn't it amazing, hurrah, let's all have a glass of champagne'," he said. "But it's about what we are going to do about it. The biggest betrayal is the continued prevarication about the Olympic Stadium, which is a disgrace."
He went on: "Sorry for being so forthright. It is an absolute continued disgrace what is going on at the moment and it is not doing sport as a whole any favours."
Earlier this month, the London Legacy Development Corporation said the east London stadium would not reopen until 2015 or possibly summer 2016, disappointing those who expected a 2014 reopening.
Inverdale was hosting a conference in central London for UK Action, formerly known as the Fitness Industry Association before the rebranding announcement. He told the 400-strong audience, London 2012 must be more than a "fleeting memory".
"My worry is that when 2012 becomes 2013 and 2014 and 2015, what will that legacy be?" Inverdale asked. "There are only 41 or maybe 40 days left of 2012. There is not long to galvanise people before we move into the future."
He added later: "What we must not do is betray what has happened this year, the efforts that so many people have put in, by allowing what should be a great sporting legacy and a great health legacy to be lost."
Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham also warned that the Olympic legacy was under threat when he spoke to the conference.
"Britain is in real danger of missing the Olympic moment," he said. "Things are going backwards. School sport is in retreat, as figures from the ECB showed last week. Physical activity levels are stalling after years of increasing. This means that, while we may have topped the medals table, we remain rooted to the bottom of the league table of most active nations."
