POSTED: April 19th 2011
NewsUpdate
Peace breaks out in London 2012 cash squabble between LOCOG and BOA
KEIR RADNEDGE / Sports Features Communications
LONDON, Apr 19: The embarrassing row between London Olympic Games organisers LOCOG and the British Olympic Association has ended after the successful conclusion to talks sparked during SportAccord.
The initial disagreement was whether the BOA received its cut of the Games surprus immediately after the Olympics or had to wait - as LOCOG proposed - until after the Paralympics which had been expected to run at a loss.
A wide-ranging statement of co-operative efforts suggests that LOCOG has expanded its support for BOA-linked projects further than before but without conceding the principle of joint accounting for Olympics and Paralympics.
The LOCOG statement said the two had "reached an agreement to expand the levels of cooperation and partnership . . . prior to, during and immediately after the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games."
It added: "The agreement, which is welcomed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), also brings to an end the request for arbitration that had been filed by the BOA with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to resolve a contractual dispute with LOCOG.
"The BOA and LOCOG reaffirm they are united in jointly supporting the vision outlined in the bid, of a joint festival of sport encompassing the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
"The agreement provides greater clarity to existing contractual agreements and identifies specific areas of expanded partnership between LOCOG and the BOA, including:
* Confirmation that monies due to both the BOA and the British Paralympic Association (BPA) after the 2012 Games will continue to be prioritised and delivered should LOCOG's Final Audited Statutory Accounts show a sufficient surplus.
* Confirmation that once any other financial obligations are met, any remaining surplus resulting from the financial results of both Games will be distributed on the basis of 60pc for the benefit of sport in the UK, 20 percent to the IOC and 20 percent to the BOA;
* LOCOG will pro-actively support the BOA's ongoing efforts to secure corporate sponsors and other commercial partners for Team GB for the 2013-2016 Quadrennial;
* LOCOG will support the BOA's plans for the marketing and sale of two items of iconic Team GB merchandise through its official retail outlets and in conjunction with the Torch Relay. Further, LOCOG has offered to waive its royalty fee on these items so that the proceeds are designated exclusively for Team GB/BOA;
* BOA will have access (subject to availability and not before 31 July 2011) to purchase additional Olympic Games tickets, which will be designated for two purposes: 1) for use with the Team 2012 Appeal, 2) for British Olympians who competed in previous Games;
* LOCOG has also agreed to increase support for Team GB operational planning prior to, during and immediately after the Olympic Games including access to venues contracted to LOCOG between the Olympic and Paralympic Games, subject to agreements from other contracted parties;
* To provide the BOA with the opportunity to build upon the successful Get Set Olympic Educational Programme, which is now in more than 16,500 schools across the UK, LOCOG and the BOA will work together to develop a detaled business plan to expand the impact and reach of the programme as part of the London 2012 legacy and to attract future commercial support."
Paul Deighton, the LOCOG ceo, said: "I am glad this issue has been put behind us and we can all get on with delivering Games next year that will make this country proud."
Andy Hunt, his BOA counterpart, said: "We appreciate the spirit of partnership and cooperation that LOCOG brought to our discussions. We are proud of our long stand
ing partnership with LOCOG and the outstanding work being done by all of the sport stakeholders to deliver what will undoubtedly be successful Games.
"With this matter now resolved, the BOA will be able to keep its attention focused entirely on our preparations to support Team GB at the Games."
Keywords · London 2012 · LOCOG · BOA
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