SOME sport leaders have blasted the lack of Olympic legacy for athletics in the borough.

Don Whistance, sports teacher at Conifers Primary School in Weymouth and South and West Athletics manager, criticised ‘legacy ambassador’ Lord Coe, who on a recent visit to the borough, said that linking young people to the values of sport will help inspire youngsters to strive to be the best they can.

But Mr Whistance claims children cannot ‘strive to be the best they can’ until there is a modern all-weather track for the future generation of south Dorset children.

He says the athletics centre at the Marsh is ‘filled with weeds and puddles’ and ‘makes a joke’ of the ‘Inspire a Generation’ motto of the Games.

He said: “There is no legacy. The council do not support the maintenance of this track as an athletics venue.

“If it rains then the Marsh turns into slush and the South and West Dorset Primary Schools’ Championship is cancelled, meaning all the hard work is lost and many children are disappointed.”

Mr Whistance said young talented athletes from the area are forced to travel elsewhere to train.

Teacher and parent Mark Holloway, of Westfield Arts College, said: “As a teacher and parent of a child who is just gaining an interest and some success in athletics it is hugely disappointing that local children appear to be let down by the miserable state of our local athletics track.”