Hunt claimed UK Sport went back on commitments it had made to fund sports such as shooting, table tennis, handball and fencing who all find themselves in limbo after they were unable to announce funding for them because of a £50 million shortfall in funding..

Hunt, who previously worked for a security firm and only took over his new role last month, said: "It is disappointing that, despite extensive lobbying we find ourselves in the position now, just three months after the most successful Olympic Games for Great Britain in 100 years, where the Government has failed to honour their funding promise to all our Olympic sports."

 

UK Sport today announced a record £292 million funding package into Olympic and Paralympic sport.

 

Under its "no compromise" strategy it has targeted sports that they believe can deliver medals in 2012, including cycling, rowing, sailing and swimming.

 

It was the same formula that they used in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics, where Britain finished fourth in the medals table with a record 47 medals, including 19 gold.

 

Hunt, who has never attended an Olympic Games, said: "As host nation in 2012, as opposed to previous Games, all our sports are effectively pre-qualified to compete which is why it is so disheartening that such a unique opportunity for our athletes to be a part of a home Olympic Games is now uncertain."

 

Among the sports who must wait to discover whether they are to receive full funding for 2009-2013 are handall and volleyball.

 

The BOA have only ever sent a volleyball team to the Games once - at Atlanta in 1996 in beach volleyball.

Hunt said: "For those sports that have learnt today that they face an uncertain financial future, two years of planning and investment has been thrown up in the air.

 

"Whilst those sports may have fallen short of the medal rostrum in 2012, the promised Government investment would have given them the opportunity to develop their athletes' talents and their resources as a whole.

 

"There are 1332 days till London hosts the Olympic Games and for some of our sports today has marked a drastic set back in their preparations.

 

"Working with UK Sport, the BOA will offer its vast experience of raising funds in the Olympic world to explore practical ways in which we can assist those sports in the months and years ahead.”