After a bidding process, launched in August, the OPLC is now entering the final stage in its aim to secure the best future for the Stadium with the Premier League clubs now set to go head-to-head to take over the £550 million ($890 million) Stadium.

Tottenham plan to make the East London stadium an 80,000-seat venue.

West Ham want to create a 60,000-capacity arena for football, athletics, concerts and community use.

The Tottenham bid has been submitted in collaboration with AEG, which runs the O2 Arena beside the Thames in Greenwich.

But it is understood that Tottenham's controversial plan calls for the stadium to be demolished and rebuilt and the athletics legacy to be moved to Crystal Palace.

Margaret Ford, chair of the OPLC, said: "We are very pleased with the extensive and serious interest shown in the Stadium.

"We started this process to ensure the very best legacy for the Stadium, and we are now at a point where we have selected the two strongest bids.

"We will go forward to start negotiations with the two consortia of Tottenham Hotspur and AEG, and West Ham United and Newham Council.

"The Stadium is a vital and vibrant component of the Olympic Park - securing the most appropriate and viable solution is crucial for our long-term aspirations for the future Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park area."

In going to market, the Legacy Company's aim was to consider options which would enhance and build on the existing and Government-approved plans, for a 25,000 seat mixed-use Stadium.

Among the criteria laid down by the OPLC was that whoever took over the Stadium must "ensure that.... [it] remains a distinctive physical symbol supporting the economic, physical and social regeneration of the surrounding area" and "to allow flexible usage of the Stadium, accommodating a vibrant programme of events allowing year round access for schools, the local community, the wider public and elite sport."

Through this process, the OPLC is seeking an anchor tenant that can provide an excellent legacy for the public investment made in the Olympic Park, they claimed.

Throughout the market testing and the bidding phase, the OPLC has asked interested parties to fufil obligations regarding the 2012 Games' bid commitments for a legacy for athletics.

It was the promise made by Sebastian Coe that bringing the Olympics and Paralympics to London in 2012 would leave the capital with a sustainable legacy for athletics that helped it beat Paris.

"We are delighted to have been shortlisted for the next stage of the Olympic Stadium process," said a statement from West Ham.

"We now look forward to discussing further with the Olympic Park Legacy Company how West Ham and Newham can deliver the best legacy for the stadium by making it a busy, iconic centre of sport, education and culture that benefits not just East London, but the nation as a whole."

Tottenham and AEG said that they had no plans to comment on being shortlisted.

They OPLC aims to have a preferred tenant in place by the end of the financial year in 2011, they said.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
October 2010: West Ham Olympic Stadium bid boosted by support of UK Athletics
October 2010: Exclusive - UK Athletics chairman wants "insulting" Tottenham Olympic Stadium bid ruled out
October 2010: Tottenham would scrap running track if they take over Olympic Stadium
October 2010: Tottenham Olympic Stadium bid blasted by local MP and West Ham
October 2010: Spurs eye Olympic site despite getting new stadium go-ahead