Olympic Marathon route to change for London 2012

London 2012 organisers want to alter the planned Olympic marathon route. The plan is to have the finish line on the Mall, similar to the current London Marathon. This a significant, possibly controversial, suggestion breaking with established tradition that the race should finish in the Olympic stadium.

The route change has been suggested to allow easier access for spectators and to showcase London. Organisers worry that spectators will be less inclined to flock to the sections of the race over towards the east end of the city, near the stadium. Similarly, they also don't foresee much TV interest in these 'less touristy' areas. They have proposed a new route. Runners will pass by numerous sites of interest, finally reaching the finish line at the Mall near Buckingham Palace. However not everyone is pleased.

Local officials from Newham, the Olympic host borough, have expressed their disppointment. They are strongly of the opinion that the Olympic Marathon should finish in the Olympic Stadium.

Paul Brickell, the council's executive member for the olympics said "We are disappointed London 2012 organisers are considering moving the marathon finish to the Mall, rather than the olympic stadium in Stratford".

The council is proposing a compromise that can take in the sites of central London while retaining the original promise to finish in the olympic stadium. That sounds pretty fair to me.