Ohuruogu says free travelcards is a boost for athletes

Free annual travelcards will be offered to up to 800 of the UK's top sporting talents to support their preparation.

The Athletes' London Travelcard, produced by Transport for London, covers mainline rail, buses, trams, the Tube and DLR.

The announcement comes as a survey suggests public support for the London Games is growing.

Training boost

Mayor Ken Livingstone said at the launch of the travelcard scheme that he wanted leading UK athletes to have the best possible chance of success in the years leading to 2012.

He said: "With many of the country's training facilities based in the capital we hope that the freedom to travel in London will help the country's top sportspeople to realise their potential."

To be entitled to the travelcard, the athlete must be nominated to be part of the British Olympic Association's Passport Scheme which gives support to talented athletes.

Commonwealth Gold Medallist Christine Ohuruogu, who was at the launch, said the travelcard would help athletes channel their funds into their sporting life.

"As with many athletes my sport requires me to travel extensively to train and to compete," she said.

Growing support

In a 2006 survey, 59% of respondents said the Games were encouraging children to do more sport compared with 53% in 2005.

Sponsatrak, the firm behind the research, said the figures showed that a year on from the Games being awarded to London, public support was increasing.

Some 571 respondents in the UK took part in the 2006 survey.