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BRITAIN will suffer a "brain drain" of Olympic coaches if funding for elite sport is cut after London 2012, a top official has warned.
John Steele, chief executive of elite sport quango UK Sport, said the Games should be seen as the start of a decade of sporting success and not the end.
He is concerned that Team GB, which finished fourth at the Beijing Olympics, may slide down the medals table after the Games. Australia's Olympic team saw its performance fall when its government reduced funding after the Sydney Games in 2000.
He said: "The biggest issue is retaining talent beyond 2012 - if we lose 30 per cent of our coaching talent that's 30 per cent of our investment gone.
"But we want London to be the beginning and not the end and build on the people, the knowledge and the experience of a home Games to have a real decade of absolute sporting success."
The British Olympic Association originally planned to field 550 athletes in 2012 but that may have to be scaled down unless more funding can be found.
Mr Steele said: "I would like to see as big a team as possible but that team has to be quality."
Reader views (1)
The British Olympic Association originally planned to field 550 athletes in 2012 but that may have to be scaled down unless more funding can be found.
Current cost of games £23Bn. I think that is more than enough funding for a fortnight of running, jumping and throwing stuff.
And yes it really is £23Bn. I told you so!
- Jimbob, Kensington, 11/11/2009 14:00
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