Bill Bridge: Coe's bid to create legacy by inspiring future generations must be protected

The contingency fund, money for security and the agencies charged with bringing the whole dream – or nightmare – to fruition have all been identified as possible targets for trimming.

There will be wailings from the sporting authorities which stand to make most – in terms of prestige and future funding – should their budgets be cut and there will be others like Boris Johnson who need the Games to succeed for political reasons.

But one area which could and should be addressed, without unduly damaging the prospect of having a Games of which we can all be proud in 2012 is the spending on the various bodies involved in our sport. Do we really need Sport UK, Sport England, the Central Council for Physical Recreation and SportAid?

Could not one, much slimmer, body undertake the work? Better that than sacrificing the great ideal which ran through Lord Coe's successful bid document; that the reason London should stage the Games was that they would inspire future generations and provide a legacy on which they could build.

Without that legacy the London Olympics will mean nothing. Perhaps someone could mention that to our new leaders.

And while we are discussing sport and politics – they do and must mix – it was a pity that the feel-good factor of David Beckham's handing over of England's bid to stage the 2018 World Cup and the announcement of Fabio Capello's initial squad for this year's tournament should be tarnished by revelations that the chairman of the Football Association allegedly believes Spain and Russia may be colluding in the "nobbling" of referees in South Africa.

Lord Triesman is entitled to any such suspicions but he would have been better advised not to disclose them to an indiscreet young lady who had an eye on the main chance. But then others among our football administrators, not least those at the FA, have form for indiscretions, indeed naivety seems almost a pre-requisite of taking up a post there.

It is too soon to tell whether his accusations against Spain and Russia will have any effect on the 2018 bid but they could hardly have been better timed as Jeremy Hunt, our new Secretary for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, settles at his desk.

ONLY passing attention has been paid to the early rounds of Formula 1's world championship, not least because the circuits in the Far East seem so soulless, but Barcelona last week and Monte Carlo yesterday set the old pulse racing again.

The common factor was Mark Webber winning both races for Team Red Bull and in doing so putting himself on the front ranks of drivers and into the lead in the title race.

His dominance was impressive, not least in Monaco where he three times built dominating leads over team-mate Sebastian Vettel and the rest of the field and three times had to concede his hard-earned advantage because the safety car was deployed.

When the silver Merc came out for the fourth and last time just three laps from the end Webber again had to slow down and allow the opposition to catch up but there was never the slightest doubt that he deserved his victory.

It was an enthralling spectacle and we have not been able to say that about many Formula 1 races over the past few years, especially those on the French Riviera.

Yesterday we had early shunts and shocks as Nico Huelkenberg and Jenson Button left proceedings, a spectacular coming together of Jarno Trulli and Karun Chandhok, a crash for Rubens Barrichello followed by him throwing the steering wheel and well as the toys out of his car and the last-minute cheek of Michael Schumacher in stealing a place on Fernando Alonso, who had driven a wonderful race after starting in 24th place – in the pit lane at that – and rising to sixth before being demoted to 12th.

Above all, though, there was the calm assurance of Webber who has overtaken Vettel as the man most likely to be crowned king.

Webber's climb through the ranks has never been spectacular but his arrival at the summit has been no less praiseworthy for that. He now looks a driver of the highest quality and a deserving successor to Button and Lewis Hamilton.

It's a pity he's an Aussie.

and another thing...

DON'T be misled by all the hysteria which has attended the success of Paul Collingwood's team during the World Twenty20 tournament.

Sure the boys done good (the language comes with the game, you know) but this is not the time for Champagne and knighthoods.

They will come later, when Yorkshire win the County Championship and England retain the Ashes in Australia this winter

In the meantime, let those who see rosy futures (and salaries to match) in the expansion of the short game at the expense of cricket as we know it enjoy their moment, no doubt giving silent thanks to the efforts of three South Africans, an Irishman and a Yorkshireman by the name of Tim Bresnan.