Has £79m Olympic money gone down the drain?

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Britain can expect to take a team of around 280 to China, an increase of little more than three per cent over Athens in 2004. If Britain is to achieve the aspirational goal of a fourth place in the medal table ahead of Australia at London 2012 greater strength in depth will be needed.

So far, Britain have 132 individuals qualified for places in Beijing in August, barely up compared with this stage before Athens. Only the qualification of the men's hockey team — competing in a six-nation tournament next month for a single Olympic place — can increase the team's size beyond 280.

But an independent survey for the British Olympic Association, using world championship results, revealed that if the Olympics had been held last year Britain would have won 44 medals, including 13 gold — a near 50 per cent increase on those won in 2004. BOA chairman Lord Moynihan described this as: 'Good progress towards 2012.'

The BOA hope to have the largest possible team of more than 700 in 2012, which is feasible because, in all but basketball, the hosts get automatic entry into team sports. Only the women's hockey team have qualified by right for Beijing.

One athlete who will not be in Beijing is Maurice Greene, the 2000 Olympic 100metres champion, who announced his retirement yesterday at the age of 33. 'I don't think I can have that mental battle with myself coming back from injury any more,' he said.

Greene won the 100m at three consecutive world championships and in 1999 became the first man to win the 100m and 200m at the same world championships. That year he also set a new world 100m record of 9.79sec.

Dwain Chambers, who won the 100m bronze behind the American in 1999, was told on Monday by the BOA to appeal against his life ban from selection for the Olympics, following a drugs ban, if he wanted to have any chance of competing in Beijing.

Chambers' first concern is an invitation to this weekend's world indoor championships trials for which he qualified on Saturday. He has threatened a court order against UK Athletics if he is not invited but last night UKA had still not decided their position.