The proposal to move the sport department and its 1,800 staff to Manchester may be blocked by BBC board members after it was announced earlier this month that London would be hosting the 2012 games.
BBC chairman Michael Grade poured cold water on the proposed £500m move, indicating it may not go ahead.
"This is a massive investment -- if it happens -- and we need to be careful that every penny can be justified. It isn't done until we've approved the investment," he said.
However, BBC director-general Mark Thompson is adamant the move will take place.
"We cover sports all around the world. The Olympics are going to be in Beijing in 2008 but we are not going to move the sports department to Beijing. The governors support the philosophy. We're now working on detailed plans," he said.
As it stands, the sports department, children's television and BBC Radio Five Live are all set to move to Manchester by 2009, as part of wide-ranging review at the BBC aimed at saving £355m over three years.
A BBC spokesman said the final decision on the BBC Sport move will come from the governors.
"The final plan will have to be approved by the BBC governors and value for money will be a key element of that," he said.
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