LONDON -- Britain's sports minister has criticized the proposed $760 million new Wembley Stadium, saying it's designed for soccer but unsuitable for the Olympics.
"Football was determined to win the argument, and it got its own way," sports minister Kate Hoey said. "It would be very difficult now to completely turn around the project. I can't start it all again, but I would if I could -- absolutely."If we want to bid for the 2012 Olympics I don't think the country's hands should be tied behind its back from the very beginning by having the wrong kind of stadium."
The design for the new Wembley was unveiled Monday with seating for 90,000 and topped by a 300-foot high arch -- a symbolic replacement for Wembley's famous twin towers.
The current stadium, opened in 1923, is to be demolished next year with the new one due to open in 2003. The stadium is part of England's bid for the 2006 World Cup.
The developer Wembley National Stadium Ltd. must get the plan approved by the local government authority and a review could take six months with heated debate likely.
The stadium will seat 90,000 for soccer and rugby, but only 67,000 for track and field -- 13,000 below the International Olympic Committee minimum.