Brown seeking a tsar turn for the Games

Friends of Gordon Brown, as they say in political circles, have been taking soundings from senior figures in sport about what they think the prime ministerial heir apparent should do about sport in general and the 2012 Olympics in particular should he take over. Yet it seems he already has some radical changes in mind, which could include shifting the political responsibility for the London Games away from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to either the Cabinet Office or that of the Deputy Prime Minister.

But more significantly, knowing the cost and success of the Games could be his hottest potato outside of Iraq once Blair quits, he is believed to be considering bringing in an Olympics "tsar" from outside parliament, a captain of industry in the mould of Sir Alan Sugar or Sir Richard Branson, to oversee the non-sporting aspects of what is Europe's largest public building project. A number of business leaders have already written to the Chancellor advocating this move and his closest political ally, Ed Balls, the Economics Secretary to the Treasury, has urged a "cast-iron grip" on the Games budget. Balls, an ardent Norwich supporter, is certain to be a key player in Brown's Olympic blueprint.

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