The FIG Executive Committee, which includes Brian Stocks, the former chief executive of British Gymnastics, agreed at its meeting in Chiba, Japan, to move the rhythmic events to Wembley Arena in North London.

The competition was originally scheduled to be held at a temporary venue near the Olympic Park in East London.

But London organisers decided last year to scrap the temporary facility and relocate rhythmic gymnastics and badminton to Wembley, a move that will save up to £40 million ($59 million).

The two sports expressed concern about the travel time between the Olympic Village and Wembley, and discussions have dragged on for months, although London 2012 officials claim that the average journey time is only 42 minutes.

But Paul Deighton, the chief executive of London 2012, has promised officials from badminton and rhythmic gymnastics that ample security will be in place for athletes should they want to stay in hotels in Wembley outside the Olympic Park.

Wembley Arena is opposite Wembley Stadium, which is due to host the semi-finals and finals of the Olympic football tournament in 2012, and was built for the 1934 Empire Games and originally housed a swimming pool, which hosted that sport when London last staged the Olympics in 1948.

It was renovated at a cost of £35 million ($51 million) five years ago and with 12,500 seats is London's second biggest indoor arena after the O2, staging concerts of several major bands and singers, including ABBA, Cliff Richard and Tina Turner.

Badminton is expected to ratify the move soon.


Related stories
November 2009: Decision to move badminton and rhythmic gymnastics supported by IOC
November 2009: We could not justify temporary venue in this climate says Deighton
October 2009: Exclusive - Badminton and rhythmic gymnastics must move says Johnson
October 2009: Badminton and rhythmic gymnastics set for Wembley
September 2009: Exclusive - Gymnastics prepared to move for London 2012