A provisional bid needs to go forward by next Friday and, with World Athletics keen to uphold their move to a September World Championships timeframe, it is understood that London’s bid is likely to include a potential caveat to shift the dates back.
That, it is hoped, would mean West Ham playing only two rather than three consecutive matches away from home.
The news comes as Keely Hodgkinson – who had a playful dig at West Ham on Wednesday when she promised British athletes would bring home more medals than the football club has ever done – redoubled her efforts to force the issue.
In a post on X, responding to her initial statement, she wrote: “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. 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.”
Hodgkinson’s post came after the 2019 world 200 metres champion Dina Asher-Smith also posted “West Ham please don’t play with us” on a photograph outside the stadium.
How any change to the proposed timings might affect the bid’s chances is uncertain. There are clearly advantages in exposure to having a World Championships straddling two weekends but, equally, London has routinely proved to be one of the best hosting cities for any major sporting event. British crowds always pack out big events and nightly capacity crowds in excess of 60,000 will be a big pull to organisers. There are, however, other serious contenders, including Munich and Rome, as well as a first potential World Championships in the running heartland of Kenya.