Government set to shake up sport funding

British competitors will have to work harder for their Lottery cash in the four years before the next Olympics in Beijing, Standard Sport can reveal today.

The Government plans to introduce tougher rules for the allocation of grants covering medical and living expenses despite Britain's respectable haul of medals at the Athens Games.

It is expected that a smaller range of sports and competitors will receive money from the Government agencies UK Sport and Sport England. But top performers and governing bodies which are seen to be running their sport efficiently will be targeted for special treatment.

The Government is determined to get value for money and does not want to hand out cash to governing bodies who do not use it effectively to promote both grassroots and elite sport.

Sports minister Richard Caborn said: "They have to be fit for a purpose. The days of just throwing money at it are gone. It is all about the modernisation of governing bodies, promoting mass participation and talent identification."

The new UK Sport contracts are also expected to include clauses committing athletes to promoting their sport in schools. Caborn would not comment on the details of the new contracts which have yet to be finalised.