By Duncan Mackay

The Olympic Stadium in London will host cricket after a deal was agreed in principle by county side Essex ©Getty ImagesTwenty20 cricket will be played at the Olympic Stadium in London after county side Essex agreed in principle a deal to hold matches there from 2016, it was revealed today.


Essex County Cricket Club's (ECCC) chief executive Derek Bowden claimed that there were plans to stage a Twenty20 festival there.

"In principle there is an agreement that a two-week festival of T20-type cricket could be played at the Olympic Park from 2016," Bowden told BBC Essex.

"Ourselves, Kent and Middlesex have all expressed interest in playing there."

The idea was first raised by ECCC in 2010 and is backed by London Mayor Boris Johnson.

Essex's main headquarters is in Chelmsford, located about 30 miles from the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Essex currently play at their Twenty20 matches at Chelmsford, about 30 miles from the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park ©Getty ImagesEssex currently play at their Twenty20 matches at Chelmsford, about 30 miles from the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park ©Getty Images

"[The] London Legacy [Development Corporation] and the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) are very supportive of the notion of a two-week festival of cricket in the summer," said Bowden.

The Stadium is currently being reconfigured and is set to be used for the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England and Wales.

From 2016 onwards it will be the new permanent home of Premier League club West Ham United. 

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