WONDERFUL as it is for London to have won its bid to stage the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, it has to be seen how this will benefit all sport for the country as a whole.

This initial success must be the catalyst for everyone who cares about sport and who recognises the social, economic and personal developmental benefits sport can create, to grasp this once in a lifetime opportunity.

For Great Britain to secure the host nation's traditional bumper medal haul in 2012, resources must be put into identifying and developing potential talent among our young people, and not purely expend effort on the re-generation of one area of London.

Anyone who was fortunate enough to be a part of the Herefordshire Youth Games, which took place at Hereford Leisure Centre recently - incidentally, a superbly organised event - must have been inspired by the joy and enthusiasm of the 800 or so primary school children involved.

Seb Coe has said that the London 2012 Bid is about young people and the opportunity sport offers them.

It has been said that winning the bid "goes beyond sport and has the potential to change the psyche of the nation in terms of how we look as ourselves" and that "the whole country is going to be a winner".

Everyone in Herefordshire in any way connected with sport - as a pupil or teacher, a council member or officer, as a club coach or official, as an active sports participant or a parent - should be prepared to work co-operatively to ensure that sport is put at the top of the county agenda up to and beyond 2012. The rewards can be massive and far reaching.

Bryan White, Honorary Secretary, Herefordshire Sports Council, Tower Road, Hereford.