The disclosure comes just a day after it emerged that the equally prestigious Royal Albert Hall, to the south of Hyde Park in Knightsbridge, was under consideration to host Olympic boxing.

 

The sport promises to be much in the news at London, with the host nation in contention for several medals and female boxers likely to be competing.

 

The uncertainty regarding venues has arisen because of Games organisers’ understandable desire to save money by not constructing a planned temporary venue at North Greenwich, near the Games’ East London epicentre.

 

This may have resulted in boxing being shifted from the ExCel centre to Wembley Arena.

 

However, the reluctance of boxing leaders to countenance being moved so far west has apparently led to other options coming under consideration.

 

In truth, none of the alternatives so far mooted is free of problems.

 

If Wembley is too far away, the Albert Hall – despite its historical associations with the sport - is believed by some to be too small, while it is thought that Olympia – best-known for the London International Horse Show - might require work on its roof to make it suitable for the Olympics in all respects.

 

Erected just 14 years after the Albert Hall in 1885, Olympia’s Grand Hall was said to be the largest building in the kingdom covered by one span of iron and glass.

 

It is located to the west of the city in West Kensington, not far from Earls Court, the proposed volleyball venue.