Laporte takes swipe at Britain's Beijing bounty
France will not go down the Great Britain route of concentrating their efforts on a few sports in order to win Olympic medals, according to secretary of state Bernard Laporte.
The former French national rugby team manager took a sideswipe at Britain's success after France finished 10th in the Beijing medals table with seven golds as Britain were fourth with 19.
Laporte was optimistic of success at the 2012 Games in London and also declared France would not rely on events such as cycling, sailing and rowing for the bulk of their medal success like Team GB.
"We aren't just going to concentrate our means on four or five sports to bring home the medals, like the British have done,'' said Laporte.
"Eighty per cent of the medallists will still be up for selection in 2012,'' he added.
One of those hopefuls for 2012, Alain Bernard yesterday arrived home to a hero's welcome near Paris.
"My life has changed. It is the most beautiful title you can win in swimming," said Bernard.
