By Simon Stone, PA Chief Sports Reporter

Sport England chairman Trevor Brooking has praised the performance of British athletes during the Sydney Olympics but promised there is still much more to come.

Gold medals for boxer Audley Harrison and Stephanie Cook in the modern pentathlon on the final day of competition on Sunday morning pushed the final medal tally up to 28.

The 11 gold medals represents the biggest haul since the 1920 Games in Antwerp and is a vindication of the decision to fund elite sport through a central body.

Between them, Sport England and UK Sport are responsible for splitting National Lottery cash between elite and grass-roots schemes.

And though there has been some debate about whether grants are set to be cut in the wake of declining sales of lottery tickets, the £750million cash injection announced by Prime Minister Tony Blair during the Labour Party Conference last week should go some way to addressing the shortfall.

Brooking also believes the full effects of central funding have still not been reached.

With the 2002 Commonwealth Games set to be held on home turf in Manchester and the Olympics returning to its spiritual home in Greece two years later, the former England international is confident that even more success can be achieved.

"Lottery funding has made a real difference to the performance of British athletes," said Brooking.

"It has enabled them to train and prepare properly and for the right support systems to be put in place for them.

"We intend to build on this success in terms of planning, development and facilities.

"In addition, we will be looking at investment in other sports to ensure the widest possible success.

"The English Institute of Sport and our world class potential and start programmes will identify and develop at an early stage our stars of the future.

"This has been an excellent medal performance and our aim is to build even greater success for the future.

"I congratulate all our medal winners and all of the Great British team for their fantastic performance and for delighting the nation.

"They will inspire our next generation of performers."

Sports Minister Kate Hoey has added her voice to the flood of congratulations saying:

"This has been the best Games in living memory."

"I am so pleased and proud of all the athletes who have competed to achieve this excellent medal haul for our country.

"The training, commitment and passion that the Great Britain team have displayed has truly captivated the imagination of the nation.

"We must now use their great success to stimulate sport at all levels and encourage more youngsters to participate in sports."