A group of 16 British Olympic and Paralympic athletes has signed an open letter urging authorities to keep the running track at London's Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Games.
Former champions Kelly Holmes, Daley Thompson and Sally Gunnell are among those asking London 2012 organizers to honor their original pledge that the running track would remain in the stadium.
''It would be unacceptable for the stadium to lose the track and effectively become an Olympic Stadium with no Olympic connection or legacy,'' the letter said.
The Olympic Park Legacy Company has narrowed the bidding to two Premier League soccer teams.
West Ham has said it would retain the track after the 2012 Games, but Tottenham - which is bidding alongside sports and entertainment company AEG - has plans that do not include the track.
''Here was a stadium that would see young athletes competing for an English schools title run on the same track as Usain Bolt, where Premiership footballers could play whilst club athletes train,'' the athletes said. ''Here was somewhere that could play host to Twenty20 cricket one week and a pop concert the next.''
A final decision is due by March 31.
