By Duncan Mackay

The row between London 2012 and the British Olympic Association (BOA) escalated further today when chairman Colin Moynihan and chief executive Andy Hunt were excluded from a Board meeting of LOCOG, the Organising Committee.

It was retaliation from London 2012 because the BOA is taking legal action against them in a row over whether their share of profit from the Games should include the cost of the Paralympics.

"Colin Moynihan and Andy Hunt remain directors of LOCOG," said London 2012.

"The LOCOG board has decided to exclude them from Board meetings whilst they are individually and actively involved in pursuing a dispute against LOCOG.

"Both have been invited to send alternate representatives to board meetings.

"The BOA is ably represented on the LOCOG board by HRH the Princess Royal, Sir Craig Reedie, Sir Phil Craven and Adam Pengilly, all of whom are on the BOA Board."

The decision gives lie to the claim by Moynihan and the BOA that the dispute is a "narrow technical dispute" between them and London 2012 and relations have not been affected by the row.

The BOA are claiming their cut of any surplus after the 2012 Games should not include the costs of running the Paralympics, and have ignored an IOC ruling against them to take their claim to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The BOA hit back at the London 2012 decision and said that they would not ban any LOCOG Board members from sitting in their meetings, even though they may be conflicted by having a foot in both camps.

These include the Princess Royal, the President of the BOA, and Sir Craig, who was chairman before he was succeeded by Moynihan in 2005.

Sir_Craig_Reedie_and_Princess_Royal_Singapore_2005
"With respect to the British Olympic Association (BOA) Board of Directors, we do not feel a similar action is necessary and we are not taking the same steps as LOCOG," they said in a statement.

"We see no reason to do so.

"We continue to welcome British International Olympic Committee members, all of whom are LOCOG Directors, and their contributions in the interests of the athletes and the success of the Games.

"This decision by LOCOG will have no bearing on our primary responsibility, which is to prepare Team GB for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

"Everyone at the BOA is 100 per cent supportive of the success of London 2012.

"The original vision for London 2012 shines as brightly today as ever."

But, as pressure continued to mount on Moynihan, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has, meanwhile, accused the BOA of "undermining the vision" of London 2012 as one festival of sport.

IPC chief executive Xavier Gonzalez said in a letter: "The London 2012 Paralympic Games will not make a loss and will more than cover its costs.

"The Games will be a tremendous sporting occasion, featuring 4,200 world-class athletes competing at the top of their game.

"In 2005, the vision for London 2012 - as clearly set out in the bid book - was for one festival of sport, with an integrated Olympic and Paralympic Games, underpinned by a single budget.

"The International Olympic Committee fully supports this position, as it said so clearly last week when it was asked by the BOA to define the surplus of the Games.

"It is very disappointing that this vision is being undermined by the BOA.

"The sooner we can all get back to focusing on the Games, the athletes and the sports, the better."