Eight new academies ... and not one has its own swimming pool

None of the capital's newest flagship schools has a swimming pool, despite the sport being on the national curriculum and Britain's success at the Beijing Games last month. Many also lack tennis courts, running tracks or gyms.

Teachers warned that schools would be left with a "tatty" legacy from the 2012 Games. It comes after Culture Secretary Andy Burnham promised last week that school sport would be at the heart of the "Olympic era".

But dozens of swimming pools are closing across England under Gordon Brown's school rebuilding programme, and figures show many children are still not playing enough games.

Meanwhile, the academy proposed for the 2012 Olympic Village has dropped plans to specialise in sport.

The Standard analysed facilities planned for the eight new London academies opening in old buildings this week. Many projects are at an early stage and the schools will eventually be housed in state-of-the-art structures.

Plans confirmed so far will cost almost £220million - but they show a mixed picture for sport:

There will be running tracks in only three of the eight academies.

All have sports halls but none will have a swimming pool.

Tennis courts and grass playing fields are planned for only three so far.

Only half will have their own gyms.

The new institutions include Pimlico Academy, which will lose a swimming pool when it is rebuilt, despite costing £35.3million.

John Bangs, head of education at the National Union of Teachers, said the lack of sporting facilities "leaves the Olympic legacy looking pretty tatty".

He added: "It is absolutely bizarre that in the Government's own backyard the very facilities we will need for 2012 are not being built into academies."

Liberal Democrat education spokesman David Laws added: "If the Government is serious about building on our recent Olympic success it needs to ensure there are good sports facilities in all of our schools."

However, schools minister Lord Adonis said the academies would be " excellent" schools providing quality sports: "We are committed to all academies having first-class sports facilities. They will all have sports halls built to the highest specifications. Almost invariably, the facilities are better than those in the schools that they replaced."

He said pools were not usually funded from the £45 billion Building Schools for the Future policy: "There's a limit to how much funding BSF can provide."

Academies are state schools sponsored by companies, charities, individuals or faith or community groups. The academy programme aims to transform education in deprived areas.

Sponsors of the new schools include Future, a charity chaired by venture capitalist John Nash; the Harris Federation of Schools, led by Carpetright boss Lord Harris of Peckham; Absolute Return for Kids (ARK), chaired by Arpad Busson; Christian group Oasis; the Diocese of London; and City University.

Sponsors argued that space was too limited for a full range of facilities, and pointed out that in may cases they were still using old school buildings. Many said they had good access to nearby off-site facilities. ARK managing director Lucy Heller said: "We are on small sites but we have absolute confidence that we can deliver terrific sport."

A Croydon council spokesman said of the Oasis academy in Coulsdon: "There is an £18.4 million spend scheduled for the next two years. When the planned sports facilities are completed, they will be among the very best."

The Evening Standard's charter to deliver an Olympic legacy

Create sporting inspiration and facilities "that last for the generation to come"

Secure access to top-class sporting facilities for all

Ringfence money to secure Olympic legacy and ensure millions more participate in sport

No more sell-offs of school or council sports facilities

Establish a system of "Olympic Champions" with top athletes going into schools to inspire children, teachers and parents