The London Daily News

The start of the Premier League season is set to be pushed back to accommodate the 2012 Olympics.

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games confirmed that the kick-off for the 2012-13 championship will be moved to avoid clashing with the last weekend of the international event.

The traditional curtain raiser, the Community Shield may be turfed out of Wembley and will have to be played mid week. The Premiership’s first game would then be played on Saturday August 18th.

Wembley will be used for the  men's and women's Olympic football finals and could not be ready for season opener.

The Olympics are due to conclude on Sunday 12th August 2012 which is the same weekend

A condition of the host city contract with the International Olympic Committee forces organisers to work with other sporting bodies to ensure the Games takes place in an uncluttered calendar.

London 2012 chief executive Paul Deighton, spoke as IOC inspectors finished a three-day check of London's preparations for 2012, said:

"I can confirm that we have been in discussion with all the sports bodies responsible for schedules in the UK in 2012 and we are on track to meet that obligation."

Deighton has already held talks with officials at the England and Wales Cricket Board in a bid to ensure no international matches take place during the Games.