Not enough is being done to ensure an increase in sports participation as part of the London 2012 legacy, according to CCPR, an alliance of governing bodies in sport and recreation.

Tim Lamb, CCPR chief executive, said: "When we won the bid in Singapore we did so with the pledge that a London Games would inspire a new level of participation in sport in the UK. But at the moment, that's about the only thing that isn't being planned properly for.

"There are 150,000 community sports clubs in the UK and our research shows that more than half of them are either just breaking even or are losing money. And as more than half a billion pounds earmarked for community sports is being diverted away and towards the Olympics, this situation is unlikely to improve."

According to CCPR chair, Brigid Simmonds OBE, the success of Team GB in Beijing was "only skimming the surface".

"There is a reservoir of talent in the UK which we are not doing enough to plumb." Simmonds said.

"The number of girls who continue with sport after they leave school falls by around half. These aren't just people who become disengaged because they haven't got talent. It is because the UK hasn't got the structures in place to keep them in sport."

According to the CCPR, the percentage of young people playing sport drops by 33 per cent on school-leaving age and only 25 per cent of Brits take part in regular exercise.

Simmonds added: "Ministers could be doing much more to put sport and physical activity at the centre of people lives. That makes sense not just when you are talking about elite talent but also when you are talking about keeping people fit and healthy.

"We need to put in place structures which ensure we make the most of our talent pool – and that means engaging as many people as possible in sport.

"We also need a smoother transition between school and community sport, one that will shed fewer people and we should be aiming to coax young people back into participation."

The London Development Agency, which is working alongside the commissioner of sport Kate Hoey, assures Leisure Opportunities that it is currently developing a London Legacy Plan for Sport on behalf of the mayor of London Boris Johnson and partners. These partners include Sport England, UK Sport, Youth Sport Trust and London councils. This new study is due to be completed this month.

The mayor also recently announced plans to inject an additional £20m into The London Youth Offer, which will include further sporting opportunities.

An LDA spokesperson said: "The LDA is committed to working with the mayor to deliver his vision of a lasting sporting legacy for London after 2012 by building on its existing work and targeting investment at potential athletes. This will focus on providing the specialist sports coaching and support needed by young people in London."