London Stadium That Hosted 2012 Olympics Given Temporary Face Lift for World Events

By Adam Kopet, DyeStat Editor

For the past year, the London Stadium has been the home of West Ham United, an English Premier team. The stadium, however, is better known as the Olympic Stadium that played host to the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the track and field events at the 2012 Olympics.

West Ham United signed a 99-year lease of the stadium in 2013, but a concession was written into the lease to allow for certain events outside of the soccer season.

According to a West Ham United release, the signage that has adorned the top of the stadium and other signs around the stadium are to be temporarily removed in preparation for the IAAF World Championships in August and the World Para Track and Field Championships in July.

The IAAF requires a clean stadium to host the World Championships and other IAAF events. When Eugene hosted the IAAF World Junior Championships in 2014, much of the signage, including at least one Nike Swoosh was covered up for the duration of the event.

The signage will be stored off site and reportedly guarded around the clock. The signs will be cleaned and serviced before being reinstalled after the IAAF World Championships in time for the beginning of the 2017-18 West Ham United season.