SNP attacks PM�s plans
By James Hamilton

Britain's triumphant Olympic team will return home after the Beijing Games to a heroes' reception, Gordon Brown has promised - with the hint that medal winners such as Scot Chris Hoy would also be in line for honours.

However, Mr Brown, who is in Beijing for the final days of the Games, also drew criticism when he restated his hope that a single British football team could compete at the next Olympics.

The UK has not entered a football side in the Olympics since 1960, partly because of fears it may jeopardise the future of the individual England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland sides.

The SNP said the comments were a "spectacular own goal" for Mr Brown. An SFA spokesman said: "Gordon Smith the SFA's chief executive has spoken to the Prime Minister about Team GB, but we are unlikely to alter our position and remain opposed to the concept of a Great Britain football team."

Mr Brown praised the "meticulous" planning of the Chinese authorities as well as the success of the Chinese team in topping the medal table.

"It has been superbly organised," he said on China Central TV.

He later confirmed that there would be a Downing Street reception for Britain's Olympians, adding: "It is not for me to make these decisions, but there have been such spectacular successes that the honours system is bound to recognise them, and will do."

He said he would be "surprised" if a football team from the UK would not compete in London, adding: "I think when people are looking at the Olympics in 2012 - Britain, home of football, where football was invented, which we gave to the world - I think people would be very surprised if there is an Olympic tournament in football and we are not part of it.

"I am determined to work with the football associations and the Olympic Committee to ensure that when we come to 2012 we have a men's football team and we have a women's football team playing."

Pete Wishart, the SNP's sport spokesman in Westminster, said: "He is out of touch with the overwhelming views of football supporters throughout the UK. All the national supporters' groups oppose this move and see it as a threat to the status of their nations to field independent football squads.

"Not only do all the national supporters' associations oppose such a move, but the majority of football associations in the UK have said they do not want to take part in a single UK team as it could threaten their existence within FIFA.

"Gordon Brown should abandon his campaign which threatens the identity of each of the home associations and their national squads."