Brit gold worth £40m Olympic bonus

Britain's most successful Olympics since 1920 could lead to a £40 million windfall for the British Olympic Association.

Although National Lottery funding for elite athletes is likely to be cut because fewer tickets are being sold, the BOA are confident British industry will be prepared to increase their cash backing after the team spectacularly banished the memories of failure four years ago.

The disappointment of the Atlanta Games, where Britain won just one gold, meant the BOA failed to reach their funding targets from sponsors and corporate partners.

They raised £18m - £2m short of what they had hoped.

But it was that money which helped pay for the pre-Games preparation camp on Queensland's Gold Coast and the huge travel costs involved in flying the team's 321 athletes and nearly 300 support staff to Australia.

And while chiefs acknowledge the demands for Athens in 2004 will be far smaller, they are determined to cash in on the team's success.

Britain's magnificent performance in Sydney was capped at the weekend with gold medals for boxer Audley Harrison and Stephanie Cook in the modern pentathlon. It took Britain's tally to a remarkable 11 golds, 10 silvers and seven bronzes.

That magnificent total of 28 medals was three more than the target set by the UK Sports Council.

They are also hoping the medal haul will boost financial support for a potential London Olympic bid.