Keely Hodgkinson has doubled down on her calls to allow the London Stadium to host the World Athletics Championship – after current incumbent West Ham threatened to block the event due to clashing home fixtures.
The tournament is set to last three weeks in September 2029, with the club strongly opposing the possibility of having to vacate their stadium for its duration.
Olympic champion Hodgkinson immediately clapped back on social media earlier this week, cheekily suggesting that the British athletics team would ‘bring back more medals to that stadium than West Ham have seen in their entire history.’
While her first statement won her plaudits, the 24-year-old expanded on her reasoning in a second.
‘Thoroughly enjoyed the rattled comments under this, but in all seriousness, to have a global championships back in London would be incredible for our sport,’ Hodgkinson wrote on X. ‘I didn’t think we’d get the opportunity again during my career, the british crowd would fill it everyday.
‘Seems silly for London to be taken out of the running, over a football team not compromising on a stadium they pay RENT for when it’s only a few extra away games, everything’s always all about money and never moments. let us have this moment!!! pretty please’.
Keely Hodgkinson has offered up a second argument for why West Ham should vacate the London Stadium for three weeks in 2029
The Olympic champion passionately argued her case against the tenants in east London
The London Stadium was originally conceived as an athletics venue for the Olympic Games in 2012, with West Ham agreeing to rent the stadium from the Greater London Authority Holdings Limited as their new home in 2016 on a 99-year lease.
The Hammers are insistent that the terms of their agreement with the stadium grant them ‘priority’ during the football season.
Privately, club sources are confident they can defend their position through legal avenues if necessary.
A deadline of April 3 has been set for initial submissions to World Athletics. Despite government backing, there are fears a deviation from World Athletics’ preferred September date for the Championships could hand an advantage to London’s rivals Rome and Munich.
The British star would be 27 at the time the World Championships would be due to take place and would hope to be in the position to claim a world title in front of a home crowd.
Hodgkinson last week won the women’s 800m title at the World Athletics Indoor Championships.
Her triumph came as part of a run of three gold medals in 28 minutes for the British team, with Georgia Hunter Bell winning the women’s 1,500m and Molly Caudery triumphing in the pole vault.
In total, Britain won four gold medals at the Championships with Josh Kerr winning the men’s 3,000m.
A West Ham statement to Daily Mail Sport last month read: ‘West Ham United remain in a constructive dialogue with London Stadium regarding the potential dates for the proposed bid and await further information.
‘Any decisions remain subject to the club’s overriding priority clause, a contractual right ensuring West Ham United games take priority during the football season.’
The perceived vagaries of that contract have long been disputed between West Ham and operators of the stadium during a fraught relationship.
While West Ham have regularly vacated the stadium to enable its reconfiguration during summer months, usually in the form of concerts or Diamond League athletics, they have not previously left mid-season for any extended period.
Keely HodgkinsonWest Ham United
