SPIRALLING costs have forced London Olympic officials to scrap plans for a £100m fencing arena, while a basketball venue is also in jeopardy.

The events will be held in existing buildings rather than in the structures shown in artists’ impressions unveiled to the public by the Games organisers.

The paring back of the Olympic building plans is at the centre of a review ordered by the London Organising Committee (Locog) and the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA).

Both the fencing and basketball arenas had been intended as temporary constructions and organisers believe their cost cannot be justified.

It is understood that the fencing hall, planned for the north end of the Olympic Park in Stratford, east London, has already been cancelled after the builder’s estimate came in at nearly £100m, double the original budget.

According to Olympics insiders, fencing will now be moved to the London ExCeL exhibition centre in nearby Docklands.

Sources also said the basketball venue was under threat after a similar price rise to nearly £100m. The basketball competition may now have to be staged at the O2, formerly the Millennium Dome.

Last night Games officials confirmed the review of temporary venues but insisted that no final decision had been taken. They said any changes to the park would not be made until officials from the sports concerned had been consulted.

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