Do us a favour and ignore John Coates - he is just trying to get more Aussie taxpayer funding. Wait until the US and Russia start spending taxpayers money on the Olympics - GB and AUS don't stand a chance. PLEASE concentrate on spending (self funding) money on sending a first rate rugby team to Aus.

MP, Sydney, Australia

fear must be collapse of funding after 2012

in cycling Brailsfords Vision is to create Team GB
as the brand with the Commercial sponsor secondary -opposite to current teams in professional cycling

Cavendish will be used to attract sponsors .as already mega star in Tour de France

john, Ipswich, UK

Too much attention goes on pointless athletics events, especially at school. We should focus on sports like cycling and swimming, to encourage people of all ages to join in. Who bothers throwing a javelin past the age of 15 but lots of people cycle for leisure and swim on holiday. Sport for all!

Gert, Brixton,

Wouldn't it be a lovely gesture if our MPs donated their pay rise to the fund for training our athletes. That would certainly go a long way toward helping and it would be the first time that the MPs have actually done something for the country instead of each other.

Steve Smith, St Agnes, UK

most of the elite athletes go /went to American Universities..suggest uk sends more for the real olympic sports, ; track and field... sports that do not need something to sit on..and send more swimmers to usa, (coventry) USA Universities produce the American athletes, not Gov.

LJLaird, wimborne, england

The PM has already said that he will do 'everything necessary' for 2012 so you cannot blame the coaches, but so much for control of the 2012 budget. I suspect the next games will be a sporting success but financial disaster. Perhaps Northern Rock could sponsor them and 'share the risk'.

Chris Jones, Belfast, uk

Does that mean that we can have our coaches and sports scientists back again?

peter, canberra, Australia

I thoroughly enjoyed the Olympics, and felt really proud of those who won medals, but I think it's unfair of the Olympic Committee to put financial pressure on the UK in this difficult financial climate. Please may I make a plea for any additional sports funding NOT to be taken from the Arts budget?

Alison, Croxton, UK

There's a difference between providing adequate funding and 'throwing money at sport'. All those with a vested financial interest will keep 'their noses in the trough'. The bid was secured on grossly underestimated costs. Brown throws money at 'quangos' and wars in Iraq & Afghanistan.

jean baker, Guildford, Surrey

Toby in Brum - nice idea, but it those MP's themselves who will vote on reducing their expenses, not going to happen is it!

Bill, Knaresborough,

What has happened to loyalty to one's country? Any trainer who is willing to go anywhere just to get more money isn't worth having. We need people who are willing to motivate athletes to compete to win for UK, not money hungry job hoppers.

Sue Meredith, La Vinuela, Spain

While it would keep national pride in 2012 high if the coaches are retained (through high salaries?), money is needed for coaches at club level so they can talent spot and train winners for years to come. Schools should be delivering exercise for health but can't coach up to tcompetition level.

Diana, Derby,

There are hundreds of athletic clubs which organise races each year with substantial cash prizes. Groups of professional foreign runners travel all over the country to enter these races and scoop the money. Obviously, give the money prizes to the local runners.

A.Mathman, Barnsley, S.Yorks

Comments here reveal the real problem for GB sport. The ignorance, prejudice, and class/wealth/success envy which riddles the British people (and thus its MPs) will always hamper and hamstring our competitors. In sport more has been done than said for once - obviously that's not to be tolerated!

Barry Etheridge, Glastonbury, UK

The olympics should be for amateurs, including coaches.
The ugly head of greed arises once more.

m wilson, bidache, france

'funding for elite sport'...says it all doesn't it? A complete waste of money.

judy, Liverpool, England

If you pay peanuts.... but lets be reasonable about this. We can't throw money at some people and let others scrap the barrel. There has to be a fair distribution - not based on medals received.

C Hayman, London, UK

I didn't agree with bidding for the London Olympics, but now that we have it we'd be stupid not to make the most of a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Success and the incredible performances at the Beijing Games have lifted the nation. Pay the coaches that have delivered what they are worth.

Jane, Sutton, UK

What a strange comment by Farrukh of Woking: "Its a market economy, live with it." That suggests we just put up with it rather than do something about it.
Securing long term funding is the best way of living with it. As for it being good value for money: if it inspires our teenagers it is worth it.

Andrew, Shepton Mallet, U.K.

Our 8 minute slot at the finale was amateurish and failed to highlight the real and exciting talent that is Great Britain. Why do we think the young will feel included by what was a lot of pathetic prancing around - surely we should encourage them to aim higher? Quality, not quantity, is the answer.

Susan, London, UK

This needs to be performance related not based on ifs and buts but also what about means testing some of it ? the equestrians appear to be from wealthy stock but still receive massive lottery funding

Also all of the facilities put in should be permanent leaving a legacy for the future

Michael Chance, bishops stortford, uk

clive of sydney, how nice to receive your warm congratulations!

Frank Keegan, alderley edge,

What circles do you move in, Hilary of London.

I have yet to find ANYBODY that is in favour of the olympics coming to London in 2012. Grossly mismanaged, overspending, ego trip for a few elite and their hangers on.

We will remember it for decades through our taxes.

Scap it all now.

Chris, Ashford, Middx, England

What happened to "who is the best country", as opposed to "who can pay the most for the best coach"? Health service, private detectives, military contractors, now this.

Shall we just do away with the whole "nation" concept altogether? It's really the money talking after all.

Howard, Manchester,

In the UK money is spent on three sports.
FOOTBALL, FOOTBALL & FOOTBALL.
The success of our athletes in Beijing is not due to vast amounts of money but their dedication and training.
Indoor velodromes and Olympic sized pools are needed NOW not in 2012.
It might keep the kids off the streets as well.

GJB, Slough, Berkshire

So we are being blackmailed into paying extra for what might actually be a flash in the pan. You can't honestly tell me that these sporting coaches planned this level of success! If they are so cocky about their abilities, why don't they go to the bookies and earn their bonuses there.

Let them go!

Paul, Takatsuki, Japan

They can have the athletics coaches.

The track athletes that made performed poorly.
The mistakes they made were things that a good coach would have ironed out.
Things like;
All relay teams - handovers!! pathetic
Lisa Dobriskey - Olympic final tactics? honestly
...and where were the rest of them?

Michael, Bracknell, UK

We have the spirit and the country's support - make that 4 year funding commitment now and keep the great coaches for a great 2012.

Hilary, London, GB

We should win plenty of more medals, especially in the new events of binge drinking, pub fights, and stabbings

Paul, Bucks, England

Australia has been enormously successful at the Olympic Games since 1992. Other countries have now studied the formula used for success and copied it. The result is a slight drop in Australia's medal tally, mainly to you, GB. Hang on to your coaches (or ours) if you want to repeat your successes

Clive, Sydney, Australia

It is not just simply a case of throwing money at a sport and expecting it to deliver. Our sprinters have for years been useless and yet they have had massive funding. All the bling and cars don't come cheap! Make these athletes earn their money.

Brian, Warrington, Cheshire

ha,you see,each nation is just the same.so,don't criticize China before the game. and now,don't criticize Britain now. each nation over the world is the same.

peter zhu, China,

steve tea - stop your whinging, cuts can be made elsewhere, for example 10% of MP's expenses cut would enable all our olympic teams to have adequate funding. Take it away from those with their snouts in the troughs rather than our athletes.

Toby Huggan, Birmingham, UK

Its a market economy, live with it.

Farrukh, Woking,

Pay rises remember inflation according to Labour is only at 2.1%. I would rather have a lower taxes so that I can afford to heat my home this winter and put food in my mouth than have a gold medal I cannot eat or use for fuel.

steve tea, manchester, cheshire.