Explain to me why on earth the Tax Payer should yet again foot the bill. Our Government has an uncanny nac of making promises to the British public and slapping us with tax rises to compensate. This government is not interested in anything other than making the poor poorer and the rich richer.

Donna, Basildon, United Kingdom

What's the population of the UK? 60 million?

If we are all as proud of our Olympians, as we say we are, why not set up a patriotic fund for every British man, woman, and child to donate One Pound each to support them over the next four years?

I tell you what, I'll double that for my family!

Anthony, Manama, Bahrain

We are getting tangible positive results from these few millions spent on sport. That is in stark contrast to much of the billions frittered away elsewhere in the public sector.

Steve, London,

It's going to cost nearly £18bn for the infrastructure and security to run the 2012 Olympics, and yet they are now squabbling over a "mere" £100m for the actual sports people who are due to compete. Someone has the wrong priorities.

Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one,

These people have turned their hobby into their profession. I trust the government will buy me a new Nikon so that I can improve my photography and then turn professional. Some hope!!!

Roger Parkes, Tunbridge Wells, uk

Why don't you all just stop whining!!!! We should be so proud of our athletes for what they have achieved. It's about time we had something to celebrate in this country. Many of our athletes get buy on what is essentially less than the minimum wage for the hours that they put in!

Kris, Liverpool, England

Let's not forget the Olympic budget has almost been doubled because of increased construction costs, forgetting to add VAT!!! and the huge contingency fund - all to be funded during uncertain economic times.

Complete and humiliating mis-management by a woefully incompetant government.

Mark J, Nottingham, UK

There are far more important issues facing Britain over the next four years like how to pay for all of those people currently on low incomes, who are being forced on to state benefits because they pay more.Where will the money be for that? Is running and jumping more important than food or heat?

judy, Liverpool, England

Good. It is about time that our politicians, and some who comment here understand the widespread hostility to subsidising professional sport from tax-payers money. I include in this the Olympics and football - how much went on Wembley stadium. Lke all businesses they should stand or fall on merit

Chris, Ashford, Middx, England

So they have enough money to send to Georgia, Africa and Palestine, but not on its own people.

This government is totally disgusting.

Simon Watts, London, England

Stuff the Olympics: not interesting at all. And now the government wants me to cough up for Coe and company's ego-massage, as well as the myriad other spongers hanging around the benefits and NHS office doors..

C Smith, Norwich, UK

What is another £100 million when you look at the Billions of pounds wasted by the Government each year. The games at least give people the chance to aspire - to acheive something - which is more than most Government spending does.

tim murray, London,

In the beginning the Lottery gave grants to local sports clubs, the bowls, football and cricket clubs, etc. But now there is none left for the non-elite population

Elizabeth, Loughton, England

So the Government (that's you 'n' me, pal) is stumping up a further £21m on top of the £200m we're already being hit for, because UK Sport has already spent it, despite not having found one penny of the £100m from the private sector. Looks like someone's grabbed too many cookies from the cookie jar.

John S, Wimbledon, UK

So a handfull of elite atheletes won a few medals: big deal. That's no justification for taking more money out of an overstretched public purse merely to subsidize them. Any additional £100m of public money that's going spare should be used to reduce the tax burden that everyone else has to pay.

Chris, Derby,

The success of the British team in China fosters immeasurable and much needed pride. I find it very sad that the government does not see that they should be putting even more money into sport and hopefully keep the momentum going. More false economy as kids get tangled up in drugs and benefits.

Margaret, Perth, UK

I'll wager there is no such shortfall in the "organizers" funding.

Dave, london, uk

surely a great opportunity to promote sports as a way to achieve standing amongst your peers rather than antisocial activities. Being funded is not the same as being paid; given the time and effort they dedicate to their sport, surely they deserve adequate training facilities and opportunities.

j m roberts, Liverpool, England

How about all of the MP's give up their allowance for the year for their second homes in the Capital. That would put the onus on them and not us - The tax payer. The Government wants them to win the medals but wants no hand in helping them achieve full training potential. Typical of this country!!

Donna Parish, Basildon, England

To start penny-pinching on preparation after spending £billions on building the infrastructure is just stupid short-sightedness typical of this incompetent government that has squandered so much taxpayer's money on themselves and failed public projects. What price national pride and prestige?

Oxford Don, Oxford, UK

Perhaps the honourable members of Parliament can forgo some of the £70m plus per year that they collectively claim in expenses and put it to the good of the country instead of themselves.

Eric Pritchard, Clevedon, UK

The Labour party has a policy of non commitment on funding fully the services of Britain.

Clive, Dartford, Kent

These athletes and all the management hangers-on are just another bunch living off the tax payer. Why can't they fund their own activities by getting proper jobs?

David, Poole,

John Major is directly responsible for success at the Olympics, after setting up the Lottery and using it to fund sport. The Labour Government have subsequently diverted funds away from sport to give to their pet special interest groups. Gordon then promises money that he hasn't got and here we are.

Steve B, Derby, UK

While citizens of this country are dying because their medicine is too expensive. While thousands are without a decent home. While millions of OAPs live in fuel poverty.....who cares about swimming, and jumping.

gaz, london,

What is the true cost per medal? Does it return value for money or is it something that Labour will try and capitalise on for party political means?

Stop funding quango's to make up the loss, but do not increase taxes.

steve tea, manchester, chester

Perhaps MPs could sponsor Team GB from their expense accounts.

Drew, London,

Mr Brown could always invent a new 'green' tax

Mike, Sole Street, England

My small business struggles under ever higher tax levels, I'm supposed to help fund £1/2bn for freeloading athletes, £18bn for their venue for 2 week of 2012, plus higher utility bills to pay for sponsorship deals. Let athletes live in the REAL world, instead of getting taxpayer handouts.

Anja Heq, London, England

The money would be better spent on securing energy sufficiency for the UK and helping the elderly survive the cost of living problems rather than pushing this wasteful, money down the drain, sporting event.

P Barrett, Valletta, Malta

The pips are squeaking. Mr Brown shouldn't promise to spend other peoples money. It's hurting out here in middle England, there are no more taxes that we can afford.

Tom, Lichfield,

Why should the tax payer give money to professional sports men who all earn more than most of us?

John Dee, Bordeaux, France

After the recent (and future) rises in the price of oil per barrel, and the fact we are indeed an oil producing nation, then surely we can find £100m from somewhere.
Unless of course it has already been earmarked for the inevitable rise in the cost of building two unecessary aircraft carriers.....

andrew, darlington,

Peterj, Malvern. You seem to have a real bee in your bonnet about the public sector. The problem here is not the public sector, it's that Gordon Brown promised other peoples money, without having the wherewithall to ensure the delivery of said money.

David Leslie, Perth, Scotland

Think of all of the multi millionaires in Britain - the people on the Times Rich List, the heads of our private and public businesses, the top earners in the City of London, the professional sports stars, even the big lottery winners. If one thousand of them gave £100K each, that would do it.

Alan, Newcastle,

How about one less nuclear sub then we can fund ALL the athletes that have brought us so much joy and pleasure over these last few days. 100 million is a drop in the bucket when you are talking about billions for defense programs. Who needs a "next generation" nuclear weapon when there are enough.

David Sars, exeter, UK

Paul, you are correct 'silly you'.

The Olympic Games have been fundamentally open to amateurs and professionals since Avery Brundage stepped down from the IOC in the 1970's.

Michael, Aylesbury,

How sickening that after a record breaking season and Olympics the government are unwilling to show their support to our athletes. But having spent 11 years in power accomplishing very little and bankrupting the nation another disapointment is no suprise. Congratulations to team GB in Beijing though

Oliver, Beijing, China

The Government wastes so much money on the trivial that does not matter; should this area of expenditure get cut - one of the few areas of Government spend with tangible results in medals and pride, then we can safely assume that Gordie has finally, totally and irrevocably lost his marbles

Jon Quirk, Johannesburg, South Africa

I thought they were meant to be amateurs....silly me.

Victor M., Cricklewood, London,

What's more annoying - this; our under-equipped armed forces serving abroad; or the billions squandered on quangos each year?

Paul, Singapore,

Make perfect sense to me to reduce funding for sports that under perform. They obviously don't need funding!
This government annoys me more and more each day.
We have a chance to show off to the world in 4 years time yet we're going back on promises.
No wonder expectations are low.

Amanda T, Stourbridge, UK

" . . money . . available is going into the £650 million sponsorship pot for the Games itself . . "
Much has already been said and written about the scandalous underestimating and cost overruns for London 2012. In view of current successes in Beijing, let's ask China to host again in our stead !

Lance, Bristol, UK

Reduce funding to under-performing sports, they need more analysis and support not less.

The result of this policy is that the successful sports will mark time at best and those financially starved retreat.

When the political novelty has worn off, back to one gold medal by 2020?

Michael, Aylesbury,

Having public service employees retire at 65 instead of 60, would inject billions of pounds into the economy for activities such as this.

peterj, malvern, uk