Robertson: Gordon Brown has betrayed our Olympic team

Hugh urges the Government to find the missing £100 million for elite sport as a matter of urgency.

Hugh Robertson, Shadow Sports and Olympics Spokesman, will today use a speech to an international sports conference to accuse the Prime Minister of betraying Britain's Olympic athletes by failing to fund the £600m promised to them for training in the run up to 2012, he will also highlight the potential damage to London 2012 if Britain has to enter less athletes and teams.

Hugh Robertson will say:
“Gordon Brown, as Chancellor, promised to provide £600m in his March 2006 Budget to train Britain's Olympic athletes for London 2012. As only £500m has so far been received, UK Sport will have to make cuts at its board meeting on 2 December which will mean fewer athletes and fewer teams in Team GB.

“This is a cruel betrayal of our Olympic team after their most successful games ever and breaks promises made in the 2006 budget. It is also bound to have an impact on the likely revenues from London 2012 and the number of UK athletes the home crowd can support.”