The funding is meant to encourage future Olympians

The Conservatives are asking what has happened to the rest of the �750m promised then.

Less than �30m has actually been spent on the school and community schemes for which it was intended.

But the Big Lottery Fund said complex capital projects were involved - and it was confident the money would be allocated by next year as intended.

The �60m announced on Wednesday covers 202 projects around England - such things as new pitches, changing rooms and gyms.

Sports minister Richard Caborn said: "Every one of these grants, whether large or small, has an important part to play in driving up participation in sports and activity, to help achieve both a fitter nation and world class success."

But Conservative spokesman Lord Moynihan said: "This money was first announced exactly four years ago as part of a �750m lottery investment in school sport.

"As Labour spins and prevaricates, pupils are losing out. We are facing an epidemic of childhood obesity and parents have a right to know why so much school sport lottery money remains unspent after so long."

He quoted a parliamentary reply last week showing that only 5% of the PE and sport in schools budget had been spent by 1 April 2004.

'Takes time'

But a lottery spokesperson said this was a long-term scheme, and those figures were out of date.

Local education authorities had to consult people to be sure their allocations were being spent on the most needy areas.

Planning permission and tendering for contracts took time, and often work could be done only in school holidays.

"They are going through very quickly now."

All the money for England should be awarded by next spring. Funding for the other home nations would take longer, because their programmes had begun later.

But across the UK, �412m had been committed to schemes and �29.8m had been spent at the end of August 2004 - the latest available figures.

'Great news'

The latest schemes include �407,000 to maximise the use of waterside facilities on the River Thames at Chelsea in London by local school pupils and the wider community.

Olympic rowing gold medallist Ed Coode said: "The new funding for Cremorne Riverside Centre means that more local children will get the chance to take part in sports like rowing, sailing and kayaking that might otherwise not be available to them.

"This is great news for everyone. Not only will users have the opportunity to get fit and have fun, we are making a real investment in the champions of the future, by making sure more and more people have access to really top quality facilities for the sport of their choice."