John Coates, the president of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC), has conceded that Britain's preparations have allowed them to finish ahead of them for the first time in 20 years.

 

He said: "The administration in each of the sports is very, very strong and they've paid a lot of attention to who's at the top.

 

"The high performance directors are not just the coaches and it's an area I think we need to pay more attention to.

 

"To guide a whole lot of coaches in different programmes is not easy.

 

"You need to be a psychologist as well, so that's something I think they [Britain] have done well."

 

Coates predicted that Britain will win even more medals in London 2012 as the effects of National Lottery funding begins to tickle down to some of the smaller sports.

 

Coates said: "It's going to be very interesting but I think we should regard it as the challenge that I do regard it as."

 

Coates believes that Australia can win 55 medals at London in 2012 but only if they receive more funding.

 

He said: "We have to get more resources, but we also need to have better high-performance plans to maintain a place in the top five, because that is what our rivals are doing."

 

Coates also said that he expected London to stage a unique Games.

 

He said: "They don't have to create icons, they have icons.

 

"The triathlon will take place on the Serpentine, the beach volleyball will be at Horse Guards Parade.

 

"At the moment the equestrian is taking place out at Greenwich there with a view back to the city.

 

"They have some wonderful venues."