Government drops chairman from UK Sport team

Sir Rodney Walker will not be offered an extension to his term as the chairman of UK Sport, the Government agency responsible for promoting world-class sport in Britain and implementing anti-doping policy.

The former shot-put champion turned business tycoon had been due to be offered a two-year extension to coincide with a decision on London's bid for the 2012 Olympic Games. But Tessa Jowell, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, surprised delegates at the Government's sports summit in central London by announcing that she was looking for a successor. "We were taken completely off guard and it came as a shock," said a member of UK Sport.

Sir Rodney, a former chairman of Wembley National Stadium Ltd, the organising committee of the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, the Rugby Football League and Leicester City plc, said: "I have done nine years altogether and it comes to an end in September. I am aware the Government were talking about extending it, but when you realise the average term of my predecessors was six years I think I have had a good run."

A two-year extension to his term was reportedly in the offing to provide stability to the Government's sports agencies. A separate agency, Sport England, which promotes grassroots projects, is being run by a new chairman and chief executive, and several hundred staff have been made redundant recently. Sir Rodney's second term ends in September and a successor is expected to be announced in late summer.

At the summit, Britain's next generation of young athletes received a boost with the announcement of a ?100m lottery grant. Funds will be made available for projects ranging from cycle tracks and swimming pools to skateboard parks, toddler gymnastics and salsa classes.

Jowell believes that the momentum of the Olympic bid, combined with the extra cash, can inspire athletes of the future and also encourage young people to become more active, and therefore change the trend towards childhood obesity.

She called the announcement a "direct expression of our determination to use the Olympics to boost community sport and activity levels.

"Sport England will work in partnership with local authorities and the private sector to create a new national network of facilities. These centres will provide top-class venues for those already engaged in sport and be inviting places for those making that New Year's resolution to get off the couch."