Lobo's stadium woe

The Stadium will be the home to Manchester City FC once the Games are over.

"I am so disappointed that the track will be ripped up," said the 800m medal hopeful. "I am looking forward to running in the Stadium, I have driven past it and it looks highly impressive.

"It looks like it is shaping into a great facility.

"It is great we have a track and stadium capable of hosting a major games but it is a shame the facility won't be used by athletes after the Games.

"After all the controversy over the plans for a track at Picketts Lock and Wembley, now we have one that has cost millions, paid for by various sources, that would be ideal for Athletics. It will be frustrating just to see it ripped up again.

"Manchester City don't want a track around their pitch because it is said to spoil the atmosphere but Barcelona and Rome - some of the best stadiums in the world - have tracks around them and it doesn't seem to spoil the atmosphere at all.

"Football dictates things in England but one sport where Britain are perhaps the most successful is athletics.

He continued: "We always come back with medals. The athletes are usually flying the flag for Britain and putting them on a World stage.

"What have England's football or cricket team won recently?

"Athletics is certainly the most successful sport this country has got.

"It is obviously not easy to always get huge crowds to athletic events during the year but with a few big names they could get the fans in.

"20,000 do sometimes come to watch and it makes a big difference.

"It happens at Crystal Palace for the Grand Prix meetings but Crystal Palace has seen its best years and at Gateshead, they had to add extra seats to accomodate all the people who wanted to see the athletes. Otherwise though that is too small.

"It is such a shame a purpose-built stadium for athletes cannot be used by them after the Games."