Why Redgravia is a champion address
Olympic champion Sir Steve Redgrave told today how he felt "honoured" that a 2012 neighbourhood could be named after him.
A public competition is being held to name five new neighbourhoods that will be built when the Olympic Park becomes the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park after next summer's Games.
"Redgravia" is among the frontrunners from more than 1,000 suggestions. Others include Hoy Gateway after Sir Chris Hoy, the four-time Olympic cycling champion. Sir Steve won five consecutive Olympic gold medals for rowing in five Games from Los Angeles 1984 to Sydney 2000.
He already has a road, Redgrave Place, named after him in his native Marlow, in Buckinghamshire.
Sir Steve joked that he thought a more appropriate name would be "Redgrave Row". He said: "Having a street named after me felt a bit odd to start with, but having these neighbourhoods is all part of bringing the cost of the Games down."
Sir Steve added: "I thought they could raise more money by selling off individual apartments from the Olympic Village. Wouldn't it be fantastic to be able to buy the apartment where Sir Chris Hoy or Usain Bolt lived?"
The Your Park, Your Place naming competition, run by the Olympic Park Legacy Company, closes on May 18.
