- 'Normal' visitors are staying away from London this summer because of concerns over congestion
- Hotels have slashed prices to as little as 10 a night weekend after Games ends
By Graham Smith
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Tourism bosses fear London will be left deserted in the weeks immediately following the Olympic Games.
The influx of athletes and spectators during the Games, which run from July 28 to August 12, is expected to push the capital's infrastructure to near breaking point.
But 'normal' visitors are staying away from London this summer because of concerns over congestion.
This has resulted in hotels slashing their prices to as little as 10 a night the weekend after the Olympic party comes to a close.
Ghost town: Tourism bosses fear London will be left deserted in the weeks immediately following the Olympic Games
One hotel adjacent to the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, east London, is offering a 39 rate for a family of four on Friday August 17, reports the Independent.
The hotel, a new-build Premier Inn, is charging 199 per night during the Olympics.
But while it is to be expected for hotel prices in and around the Olympic site to slump considerably following the Games, the same pattern is occurring in central London as well.
The Travelodge in Covent Garden is charging 170 for a twin room on Friday August 10 - one week later and this price has shrunk to just 42.75.
Elsewhere, the Savoy offers its Signature River 1-Bed Suite King for 5,750 on August 10; a week later it costs 'just' 2,195, a saving of more than 3,500.
Bargain: Adjacent to the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, east London, this Premier Inn is offering a 39 rate for a family of four on Friday August 17
Nick Varney, chief executive of attractions operator Merlin, said: 'The travel trade who normally bring tourist groups have basically switched away from London.
'Hotel rooms have gone up in price, and they've thought, "We don't even want to deal with being in London through that summer period." So immediately, there's a trade hit.'
Kit Malthouse, London's deputy mayor, said that a slump in tourism is to be expected in the aftermath of hosting the Olympics.
He said: 'After the Games, there will be an exaggerated effect of people staying away because they're uncertain about what state the city is in.'
However, the effect is expected to be short-lived as the Paralympic Games start on August 29 and run until September 9.
London Welsh's appeal against Premiership promotion block is delayed - The Guardian
London Welsh's appeal against the decision to block their promotion to the Aviva Premiership has been delayed by a week.
The case will now be heard on 28 June – it was originally scheduled for 21 June – under an agreement by all parties involved.
The independent panel will be James Dingemans QC (chairman), Ian Mill QC and Tim Ward QC at a venue yet to be confirmed.
Welsh won this season's Championship after beating Cornish Pirates in both legs of the final.
But the Richmond-based club were told just hours before the first leg kicked off in Cornwall they did not meet minimum standards criteria set down by English rugby's Professional Game Board for entry to the Premiership.
The Exiles played the final's second leg at the Kassam Stadium in Oxford, which is thought to be their preferred venue should they gain top-flight status.
As things stand, Newcastle will remain in the Premiership next term despite finishing bottom by a point behind Wasps this season.
But should London Welsh succeed in overturning an original decision that went against them, then they will go up and the Falcons be relegated.
London Welsh's promotion appeal date put back one week - BBC News
The date of London Welsh's appeal to the Rugby Football Union (RFU) over their eligibility for promotion to the Premiership has been put back one week.
The appeal, which was originally scheduled for Thursday, will now take place on 28 June.
An independent audit found the Championship winners had not achieved the minimum standards criteria for entry to the top flight.
The Exiles had submitted plans to groundshare with Oxford United.
The RFU has announced that James Dingemans QC will chair the independent panel for the appeal, alongside Ian Mill QC and Tim Ward QC.
Newcastle Falcons will remain in the Premiership, despite finishing bottom of the table, unless Welsh's appeal is successful.
London Welsh sealed the Championship title in May after beating Cornish Pirates 66-41 over two legs.
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