Most top athletes now train abroad

They said the watersports centre at Holme Pierrepont should have been considered after the original London site for canoeing was scrapped.

It would have been more economical and spread benefits of the games around the country, Sport Nottinghamshire said.

But Olympic organisers said they wanted a more central location.

Come to us and spread the games Simon Starr, Sport Nottinghamshire

The future of Holme Pierrepont, which has a rowing lake and canoeing course, has been uncertain since Sport England withdrew �1.4m of funding.

The original 2012 canoeing course in east London had to be abandoned because of contamination.

But Simon Starr, director of Sport Nottinghamshire, believed money would be better spent upgrading it rather than building a new venue in London.

"There is nothing to stop us making representations to the London organising committee in the first place and say, 'Look we have a quality facility here put some investment here'.

Aging facilities

"You are already struggling on costs - we know that every Olympic Games does - so come to us and spread the games, let the people get greater access to the games and wouldn't that be a fantastic boost to sport in the county?"

A spokesman for the Olympic Delivery Authority said: "Broxbourne (in London) is the ideal location for the canoe facilities because it's easy for athletes and spectators to reach.

"In establishing an alternative site, we always intended to maintain our long-standing commitment to a facility in the Lee Valley."