Lemley fears delays for 2012 Olympics

Former Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) chairman Jack Lemley left his post due to anticipated delays to the delivery of infrastructure for the 2012 Olympic Games because of local politics.

Lemley, who left the ODA two weeks ago, told the Idaho Statesman that he left the post as the project was almost certain to be delayed.

“I went out there to build things, not to sit and talk about it,” he told the publication.

Lemley said he feared that his reputation of delivering engineering schemes on time and on budget would be damaged by being associated with the London Olympics if he stayed in the post.

He also raised concerns over plans to convert the 80,000 Olympic Stadium into a 25,000-seater football stadium once the Olympics were over. "A football field is not compatible with an athletic stadium," he added.

A spokesman for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) refuted Lemley's claims and said it is important to start planning the legacy of London 2012 now.

"It is a strength of the project that we have been having a debate about long-term legacy use of 2012 facilities now - rather than years in the future.

"This project has been defined by strong political co-operation from the outset and that remains the case.”

Sports minister Richard Caborn also criticised Lemley’s comments adding: “I am disappointed by Jack. The IOC came over here and gave us a clean bill of health.

"The board he was on was one of the strongest we put together. It is made up of top industrialists.

"They are not politicians, they are top executives. I have every confidence in the board. There is no political interference."