London Olympic chiefs defend salaries

LONDON (Reuters) - London Olympic chiefs defended the salaries of its top executives on Thursday after it emerged some were earning up to 100,000 pounds more than first thought.

About seven senior executives at the Olympic Delivery Authority are being paid more than 200,000 pounds.

The news comes amid continuing unease at the overall 9.3 billion pound cost of hosting the 2012 Games.

The authority published the salaries of its executives in its annual report for 2006/7, but the report only included the amount earned so far that year.

Among the big earners were Howard Shiplee, director of construction, who is on 258,750 pounds not 147,000 pounds as stated.

Others include Dennis Hone, director of finance and corporate services, who is on 253,624 pounds not 162,000 pounds and Alison Nimmo, director of design and regeneration, who is on 207,000 pounds not 158,000 pounds.

Godric Smith, director of communications, is on 175,950 pounds not 105,000 pounds.

The figures emerged after a written Parliamentary question in the House of Commons.

An ODA spokesman said: "This is a project without precedent.