Palace pipe-dream?

Crystal Palace: Could it fill the Picketts Lock gap?

Could London yet stage the 2005 World Athletics Championships after the collapse of the Picketts Lock athletics stadium project?

Athletics' governing body, the IAAF, is adamant that Britain wants to keep the event, it must be held in the capital.

The government's preferred alternative, Sheffield's Don Valley Stadium, is a non-starter as far as an angry IAAF is concerned.

Crystal Palace is the viable option and could stage these games affordably, successfully and within the relatively short timescale

Bromley council leader
Michael Tickner

However, the sport's world governing body has given Britain until late November to come up with another London-based option.

That option is, it could be argued, staring the government in the face - Crystal Palace.

The National Sports Centre has its fair share of problems as a venue for a 10-day international sporting extravaganza.

But its supporters believe these could be overcome with a level of investment which would be a bargain compared to Picketts Lock.

Just building the 43,000-seat stadium in north London was going to cost around £120m.

Crystal Palace could, it is claimed, host the 2005 Worlds for around half that cost.

'Great venue'

As the venue of the annual British Grand Prix meeting, it is popular among athletes.

Jonathan Edwards, Britain's world and Olympic triple jump champion, has said: "If it could be renovated, Crystal Palace would be a great venue with all the history surrounding it."

Chief among the drum-beaters for bringing the cream of the athletics world to south London in four years time is Bromley Borough Council.

Edwards thinks Crystal Palace could be used

The NSC falls within its boundaries as part of Crystal Palace Park, and both have seen better days.

The Park itself is undergoing a £4.4m restoration, with another £6m earmarked for further improvements.

Bromley believes upgrading the sports facilities, including the athletics stadium, will cost £37m.

Plans have already been agreed to raise the stadium's capacity from 16,500 to 20,000, and the council says another 20,000 seats could be installed for the World Championships.

These would be removed afterwards, but the improvements to the NSC would leave a permanent legacy for British athletics.

Credentials

Bromley council leader Michael Tickner insists the proposals are "both realistic and achievable".

"Crystal Palace is the viable option and could stage these games affordably, successfully and within the relatively short timescale."

Bromley is liaising with neighbouring borough Croydon, and London Mayor Ken Livingstone has asked that more consideration be given to its bid.

Caborn wants the 2005 Worlds in Sheffield

Yet, the credentials of Crystal Palace as a serious contender to host the 2005 Worlds have come under fire from a variety of sources.

These include the one that matters most - the government.

Sports Minister Richard Caborn is not a fan, claiming transport links and athletes' accommodation are stumbling blocks.

This corner of the capital is not blessed with major through routes, and any road improvements can only be limited in scope.

But Bromley's head of marketing, Brian Turpin, told BBC Sport Online: "Our emphasis is on improving public transport to and from central London.

"As well as the refurbished Crystal Palace station there are two others close by, and the capacity exists to run additional services.

Vexed

"Most of area's traffic problems are at peak times, and these ease in the summer, when the championships would be staged."

On the issue of athletes' accommodation - a problem which vexed Picketts Lock's planners - Turpin is also confident.

Is Crystal Palace sending out the right signals?

"We have had preliminary discussions with local sports colleges which could offer accommodation, as could nearby army facilities."

If that sounds a bit basic for the sports biggest stars, London is not exactly short of hotels of all standards.

"Certainly for the media and the rest of the entourage which accompanies major championships, central London is only a short journey away," said Turpin.

He added: "Sport England are already committed to spending £21m on improving other facilities at the Crystal Palace.

"To us, it just seems to make good, solid sense to upgrade the stadium as well, leaving a legacy for future generations of athletes.

"Crystal Palace is, after all, the National Sports Centre."

Whether Bromley can convince the government of its case, however, remains to be seen.