2012 athletes funding plan under fire.(Brief article)

The sponsorship industry has lambasted the government for placing a pounds 100m bill at brand owners' doors as part of its plans for funding elite Olympic athletes ahead of the 2012 Games.

The chancellor, Gordon Brown, announced in last week's Budget that pounds 600m would be handed out to ensure Britain made a strong showing at the 2012 Games. Of this funding, pounds 300m will come from the Lottery - money that is being made available as part of an existing programme; pounds 200m is newly allocated money; and pounds 100m will be raised from investors and sponsors.

The latter sum has caused industry consternation, with the European Sponsorship Association …