The number of sports clubs and facilities going bust has fallen by a third in the year since the 2012 London Olympic Games.

According to insolvency trade body R3, the number of sports clubs entering formal insolvency fell by 33 per cent – from 123 in 2011-12 to 82 in 2012-13. By comparison, the total number of UK corporate insolvencies fell just 12 per cent over the same period.

R3's figures also show that sports-related insolvencies are now 42 per cent lower than they were five years ago when the UK entered recession.

R3 president Liz Bingham said the fall in insolvencies is directly linked to the Team GB's success at London 2012.

"Regular British sporting success, as well as the feel-good glow of the Olympics, may well have encouraged both children and adults to try new sports, join local teams, or keep on going with their gym membership," she said.

"The legacy of London 2012 has attracted a lot of attention. It would certainly be a positive Olympic legacy if any burst of grassroots interest in sport were to be sustained and translated into financially healthier sports clubs and facilities."

Corporate failures uncovered by the research include those of local football clubs, golf clubs, tennis clubs, health clubs, snooker halls, local stables and motor-racing clubs.

R3 is the trade body for Insolvency Professionals, and is made up of 97 per cent of the UK's insolvency practitioners.