The British Olympic Association (BOA) is due 20 per cent of any surplus after the Games but claim that the cost of staging the Paralympics should not be taken into account when calculating that figure.

After mounting anger both internationally and domestically, the BOA last week decided to temporarily suspend their decision to take the row to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and opted to reopen talks with London 2012, with the ParalympicsGB vice-chair claiming that the Paralympic Movement owes much to London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe and chief executive Paul Deighton for their support of the Paralympic Games during the row.

"The IOC have never wavered in their support of the London 2012 Paralympics," Cutcliffe told insidethegames.

"I think what is fantastic too is that LOCOG, right from the very start of the initial bid for the London 2012 Games, has been very much a part of wanting the Paralympic Games to have equal status with the Olympic Games.

"That has been a wonderful comfort for us throughout the whole of the build up to the Paralympic Games.

"There was an original vision for a festival of sport integrating both the Olympic and Paralympic Games and LOCOG have stood by that.

The IOC, who are contracted to have the final say in the cash row even if it does end up going to CAS, have already ruled that "the word 'surplus' clearly represents the financial results from the staging of the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games combined," while Coe has gone as far as to describe the affair as "spurious" and "depressing".

"We owe an awful lot to Seb Coe and to Paul Deighton for their continued support and insistence that the London 2012 Paralympic Games will be delivered as an event that is fully integrated with the Olympic Games," said Cutcliffe.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
April 2011: Exclusive - Culture Secretary admits to being "very puzzled" by BOA cash row with London 2012
April 2011: Exclusive - BOA are victims of a campaign claims chief executive
April 2011: BOA resume talks with London 2012 over cash row as CAS action put on hold
April 2011: IOC President refuses to be make "emotional observations" on BOA cash row
April 2011: Exclusive - IOC report condemns BOA over London 2012 cash row