Inside Lines: Cuts man Caborn in a corner over Olympics

Dateline: Athens

The Sports Minister, Richard Caborn, is currently on a fortnight's "fact-finding" excursion in Australia, by way of the Melbourne Cup and the First Test in Brisbane, to see how Sydney managed to stage such an uplifting Olympics in 2000. A perfectly valid exercise, though it might have been more beneficial had he opted to be here last week to assess how Athens is getting its act together for the next Games, which begin in 642 days' time. A far more relevant criterion by which to judge whether his Government should back a London bid for 2012. It all looks hearteningly promising, say the IOC's trouble-shooting Co-ordination Commission, a body which an Olympian London would come to know well. No doubt Caborn has already discovered that the Australian government have significantly increased their financial commitment to sport in the post-Sydney euphoria; he would have gulped even more to learn that the Greek government have allocated some £10m to be used exclusively for the preparation of 640 Olympic athletes. Contrast this to the depressing news back home that the Government have broken yet another promise to sport with a 15 per cent funding cut next year for Sport England's World Class programme. It will then fall by £21m over the next four years from the present £36m. And there is still no news of the £40m recommended by the Cunningham Review to sustain the programme leading up to Athens. The shadow sports minister, John Greenway, whose Parliamentary question unearthed the unpalatable admission, says that several governing bodies have told him they may have to scrap their entire sports programmes. "It is shameful. The sports minister should get back from the Gabba. There is a real crisis in sport and it is happening right here."

Redgrave and Co ready to tackle Blair

Such is the concern that cuts in Lottery funding will cost Britain Olympic medals in Athens that Prime Minister Tony Blair can expect a verbal roasting from some of the nation's top sports personalities when he hosts a reception for Common-wealth Games winners later this month. Additionally, disheartened sports leaders plan to enlist the aid of such notables as rowing stars Sir Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent to lobby Downing Street. The swimming chief, David Sparkes, is among those demanding action. He says: "Disgraceful is not too strong a word to describe what is going on at Government level as far as sport is concerned. After Sydney, Tony Blair made a public pledge that élite funding would be maintained up to Athens. Not for the first time, he has gone back on his word. These cuts may only be the beginning. They will not only affect our medal prospects in Athens, but also Beijing. What sort of message does that send out to the world in respect of a London bid for the Games? Virtually every major sports nation is increasing pre-Olympic funding, but not Britain. Yes, it really is disgraceful."

Why Athens is now looking shipshape

One of Athens' biggest headaches – where to house everyone who wants to watch the Olympics – has been alleviated by the signing last week of an agreement that will see the new 4,400-berth luxury liner Queen Mary II docking at the city's port, Piraeus, during the Games. She will be one of a dozen cruise ships that will be used as floating hotels. The IOC Co-ordination Commission also report timely improvements in road infrastructure and transportation, plus "some of the most impressive urban regeneration in Europe". With £1.2bn being spent on building and upgrading city hospitals, it goes to show the Olympics are not just a Games.

While the wrangle continues over where the Olympic final will be held, a more pressing football matter occupies Athenian minds. On Wednesday, security will be of Olympian proportions when Panathinaikos play the return leg of their Uefa Cup tie against Turkey's ever-troublesome Fenerbahce.

The teams drew 1-1 in Istanbul in the first-ever meeting between Greeks and Turks in European competition. It was hoped that the pairing would enhance diplomatic efforts to improve Greek-Turkish relations and thus boost their joint bid to host the European Championship in 2008. However, trouble flared when the Turks produced a banner reminding the Greeks of differences which date back to the invasion of Constantinople in 1453. The violence has prompted Greek authorities to propose limiting the Turks to 150 supporters and 10 journalists. As England have to play Turkey in World Cup qualifiers, the Athens 2004 security chief, Peter Ryan, will be keeping a watching brief for his old Special Branch buddies.

The Greeks are proud of inventing democracy, so it is apposite that their new sports minister is the old one who has been brought back by popular demand.

George Lianis is a 59-year-old former Greek premier- league footballer who became a front-line TV political journalist before heading the sports ministry, which he left in a reshuffle six years ago. His successor was never as popular, and last month Greek sports personalities successfully petitioned the prime minister for Lianis to return and supervise the Olympic run-up. Next March Lianis, who wants to see more sports people in politics, will preside over a meeting of European sports ministers at Olympia. Petitioning the PM, eh? Hope for Kate Hoey yet...

Insidelines@independent.co.uk

Exit Lines

You really have to ask yourself, would you get up at six in the morning and switch on the television knowing that Schumacher is on pole? Motor racing chief Max Mosley admits Formula One is driving even him to distraction... To be honest, I'm embarrassed to be a footballer at the moment, it has become one big soap opera. George Best bemoans the game's malaises... Thankfully, no. Former world champion Lupe Pintor, asked whether his sons wanted to box, after he had unveiled a statue of Johnny Owen, who died following their fight 22 years ago.