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Inside Out West asked Mark to investigate what benefits the 2012 Games in London could bring to the West region, where he does most of his training.

First he meets a young trampolinist who is hoping to compete in the London Games.

"500 club"

Sophie Burr, from Somerset, is 15-years-old and she's been the British champion in her age group for the last three years.

Sophie benefits from the "500 club"

While Sophie doesn't receive any financial support from her sport's governing body, she is benefiting from a scheme set up by the chairman of Somerset County Council.

Inspired by the 2012 Games, Councillor Alan Gloak is spearheading the "500 club" to support young talent from Somerset.

The scheme aims to find 500 local businesses who will pay 拢500 a year to nurture local athletes and help them to achieve their full potential.听听听

Alan's ambition is to see at least one Somerset athlete on the podium with a gold medal.听

Mark Foster is impressed - he thinks Sophie may not have got this vital help if the Olympics hadn't captured Alan's imagination.

But there are some down sides to the 2012 Games as well.

Not all good news

It's becoming clear that the while London will see new sporting facilities being built, that's unlikely to happen in the West.

In fact, regions outside London could lose some of the funding they might normally expect for sporting facilities as a disproportionate amount of money is targeted on the capital.

But that won't stop budding Olympians from taking advantage of the West's existing facilities.

While none of the 2012 events will take place in the West, it is likely that some of the best athletes in the world will base themselves here.

The excellent facilities at Bath University are already being used by Mark Foster, and a variety of other British sporting talent.

Although it won't be the official GB training camp, there are high hopes that one of the top teams from abroad will base themselves in Bath.

Cultural benefits

At nearby Bristol University they've already done a deal with the legendary Kenyan team.

Bob Reeves, the head of sport at the university, says it will enable local athletes to train alongside some of the finest runners in the world.

He also expects there will be cultural benefits with many Bristol schools entering into twinning arrangements with schools in Kenya.听

It's clear the 2012 games will leave a legacy in the West way beyond the achievements of the few who are chosen to compete.