London to bid for 2022 Commonwealth Games

  • London
West Ham will play their first game of the 2016 season at the Olympic Stadium Credit: Dominic Lipinski /PA Wire

The Olympic Stadium could form the centrepiece of London's bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games, ITV News London can exclusively reveal.

Boris Johnson's Olympic legacy adviser Neale Coleman told ITV News: "It is a fantastic event, it brings people together in a unique way and we do have the facilities there that would make a bid for that possible."

A deal to install West Ham as the principal tenant is also expected to be confirmed this week.

The agreement with West Ham will also allow the £429m stadium to host Rugby World Cup matches in 2015.

Olympic Stadium timeline

ITV News London has learned that it's going to be a busy few years in the Olympic Park:

  • A new roof will be completed by 2015

  • Rugby World Cup matches may be played there in 2015

  • Retractable seating will be built for West Ham football matches

  • West Ham will move in by the beginning of the 2016 season

  • It will host the 2017 World Athletic Championships

  • London will bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games

But taxpayers face another large bill to convert the 80,000-seat venue into a 60,000-seat football ground. The construction work will see the stadium get a new roof between now and 2015.

Following the rugby tournament, further work will be needed to install retractable seating over the athletics track.

Watch this interview with Neale Coleman, the Mayor's Adviser on Olympic Legacy.