BRITAIN'S golden performance in the Olympic Games in Sydney must be built on with the creation of new and better sports facilities, says Marlborough-based motivator David Hemery.

The former gold medallist recently returned from Australia where he stayed in the British training camp on the Gold Coast for a week before going to Sydney to watch the games.

Mr Hemery, president of UK Athletics, was euphoric about the 11 gold medals, ten silver and eight bronze the athletes brought home.

He said the excitement in the Olympic stadium had been electric: "Almost every day we had another major medal."

Mr Hemery, who won his gold medal in the 400 metres hurdles in the Mexico games in 1968, lives at Fyfield with his wife Vivian and two sons, Peter and Adrian who is tipped as a possible Olympic decathlon star.

In Sydney Mr Hemery's message to the team members was that reaching a new personal best was an achievement which, ranked almost as high as a medal.

He said much of the success was down to the new sponsorship of sport by the National Lottery.

Athletes were able to concentrate on improving their performances instead of having to worry about juggling their training with work commitments.

Mr Hemery said he was utterly delighted with the announcement by the Minister for Sport Kate Hoey that there would be greater encouragement for youngsters to take part in sport. Pupils at 10,000 primary schools in Britain will feeding into 2,000 secondary schools of which 200 would be earmarked as 'sport colleges'.

The Government wants at least one of the sports colleges in every local education authority area which would give the county two, one in Swindon and one in the rest of the county.

"Youngsters will be able to go to these schools for the special coaching they will need if we are to continue to be a major player in world sport."

Mr Hemery has long held a vision of a centre of sporting excellence being established in the Marlborough area.

He said: "I would love to see a new indoor sports facility established near the Marlborough College all weather track."

Failing that he would like to see new indoor facilities developed in Swindon where , Mr Hemery said, facilities for athletics were poor compared to many other towns of the same size. Mr Hemery said better sports facilities will not just benefit elite athletes but society as a whole.

He said: "I would love to see the Government recognise what sports can do in all sorts of things. It is good for the image of the country, good for health and helps with social integration.

Mr Hemery said he hopes the British Olympians will visit schools to encourage more children to take up sport.

What impressed him most about the Games overall, apart from superb organisation, was the spirit of sharing between all the nations taking part. The Australians cheered loudly for medal winners from every nation, he said.

He was moved, he said, when the injured Chris Maddocks, the last man home in the walking race, entered the stadium an hour behind the rest of the pack and was cheered to the finish line.

"The crowd, from the time he got into the stadium, gave him a standing ovation."