Great Britain's Olympic gold rush could spark fresh life into a string of the city's sporting clubs.

Team GB has inspired the nation with its all-conquering performances in the Beijing games, particularly in cycling, rowing and sailing, where the rest of the world has been left floundering in our wake.

And clubs in Milton Keynes are standing by to help as eager youngsters hoping to emulate heroes such as Chris Hoy and Ben Ainslie take their first tentative steps towards stardom.

Milton Keynes Sailing Club reckon the Olympic effect will be fantastic for them.

Club commodore Mark Tuffnell told Citizen First: "Hopefully it will have a big impact for us here.

"It is great exposure and there is no real downside to it.

"It is too early yet to tell if it will have a big effect on us but we imagine it will tempt some people to give it a go."

Cycling is one sport in which Great Britain have completely dominated
in Beijing, and Dick Selley of Milton Keynes Cycling Association admits it is raising the profile of the sport.

He said: "There has definitely been an increase in interest just in
general because of the Olympics."

"Unfortunately we are coming to the end of our season so we won't be able to tell if more kids want to take it up, but with The Tour of Britain coming to the city in September things look bright."

One group which has already benefited from Great Britain's strong showing in the Olympics is the MK Rowing Club at Caldecote Lake.
Deputy chairman Bob Watson said: "It has been fantastic.

"We had an open day last Sunday which was really well attended.

"Forty people turned up to watch the coxless fours win the gold medal and from that we have earned a dozen or so new members."

The feel good factor hasn't spread to the city's businesses though, with cycle shops reporting no increase in trade.