 Double Olympic champion Kelly Holmes believes the youth of Britain will be inspired by the decision to hand London the 2012 Games. Holmes swept to glory in both the 800 and 1,500 metres in Athens last summer, and was in Trafalgar Square to hear yesterday afternoon's announcement from Singapore. "I was so nervous at one point I thought I was going to be sick," said Holmes, one of the ambassadors for the London bid. "I did cry and I was very emotional. We just didn't know what was going to happen and it was nerve-racking just waiting for the decision. "But Seb (Lord Coe) and his team have pulled off a fantastic win and they deserve all of the credit for coming from behind and winning. It's going to change so many people's lives in this country. "I think from now on children are going to want to be at the Olympics in 2012." Wimbledon will host the tennis tournament and Lawn Tennis Association chief executive John Crowther will welcome the Olympians to SW19 in the hope it will inspire a new generation of Tim Henmans and Andy Murrays. Despite cricket not currently figuring on the roster of Olympic sports, Lord's will host the archery events in 2012. And England captain Michael Vaughan commented: "I believe that sport in this country will benefit enormously with London hosting the Olympics. "It's a great honour and something we can take great pride in as a country." Martin Johnson, who led England to rugby World Cup glory in 2003, commented: "Getting the Games is fantastic and Seb Coe and his team did an awesome job to make London 2012 a reality." Britain's Amir Khan and Audley Harrison are two boxers whom have won Olympic medals at recent Games and fight promoter Frank Maloney believes funding must be set aside to help find the champions of the future. "It will be a great occasion, but I just hope that not everything will be put into building it and more money will be put into the development of young talent," he said.. "That would produce future gold medalists at those games - there's no point being the bridesmaid at your own wedding." Meanwhile there was a guarded welcome from the local athletics' community for London's winning bid for the 2012 Olympics. "The venue is less important for the competitors than for the bid team. Competing in the UK obviously has an advantage over travelling abroad but good athletes will compete well wherever the Games are held," said one local coach. Up-and-coming teenage internationals such as Mike Rimmer (LPS), Alexandra Russell (Wirral), Anyika Onuora (Liverpool) and David Forrester (St Helens-Sutton) will now be dreaming of competiting at London if their careers continue to develop at the present rate. | 
