KENT MP Derek Wyatt is urging the Government to “capitalise once and for all,” on the success of the British Olympic team by developing Centres of Excellence across the country.

And the MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey believes that the Isle of Sheppey could become home to such a centre if efforts are concentrated in the Athens afterglow.

He said: “We have some of the best windsurfing facilites in the country on Sheppey and we must look to take advantage of that fact. London is pushing for the 2012 Games and areas close to the East of London will be needed to house athletes and provide training facilites.

“A large watersports facility would be great for Sheppey but we need to push harder at council and Government level.”

He stressed: "Kent doesn’t appear to have woken up to the opportunities that will arise and there is a danger of missing out unless we act quickly.”

One idea being considered is the construction of a hotel on Sheppey that would be used to house competitors should London be awarded the Games.

After the event, the hotel would be developed into a dedicated watersports facility and act as a Centre of Excellence.

“The council needs to do an Olympic audit now to look at plans in anticipation of the London bid succeeding.

“It’s no good waiting for four more years and then thinking ‘we should build more facilities’, it has to be done now while people’s minds are focussed.”

Mr Wyatt hopes local schools will be involved in the process to enable youngsters on Sheppey to benefit.

“Any facility that is built should be available to schoolchildren as part of their education as well as after school activities,” claimed Wyatt.

The MP is chairman of the London bid in the House of Commons and believes that while they are not favourites, London has a strong bid and a good chance of success.

Paris are currently just ahead in the race to win the Games, but there are precedents to suggest that all is not lost.

“Britain had tremendous support in Athens - by far the most support of any nation other than the Greeks, of course. It is now our job to channel that energy into a successful bid for 2012.”