Team GB faces cuts to funding

Cuts to funding for Olympic athletes expected to be confirmed this week by UK Sport will leave the British team facing a realistic target of eighth rather than fourth place in the medal table at the London 2012 Games, the chairman of the British Olympic Association (BOA) has warned.

Lord Moynihan made the stark prediction yesterday and called on Gordon Brown to honour his original 2006 commitment of £100m a year for Olympic sports. A £79m funding hole – almost £20m a year up to 2012 – has still to be filled because the Government's plan to attract private sector investment has so far failed to bring in any money.

Moynihan said: "We will be deeply disappointed this week if the Government moves away from their commitment. To give our Olympic and Paralympic athletes the best chance of success in 2012 the full investment programme agreed by Gordon Brown when he was Chancellor must be honoured in full."

He added: "It has serious implications for London's ticketing policy for 2012 because a successful British team is essential to maximise ticket sales." A UK Sport board meeting tomorrow will decide where the cuts are to be made.