A new body, billed as the UK's only fully independent think tank dedicated to sport, has been formally launched today.

London-based Sports Think Tank will aim to stimulate debate and improve accountability in sporting policy and governance by engaging with decision makers and governing bodies.

It will be headed by two directors - former Loughborough MP Andy Reed and consultant Nick King, formerly of sports sponsorship agency Octagon.

It counts Lord Coe and Baroness Grey-Thompson among its patrons and also has an advisory group that includes David Minton from The Leisure Database and Linda Plowright, CEO of Sports Leaders UK

Commenting on the launch, Andy Reed said: "The sports sector needs to join up policy making with the best academic research, practice and innovation.

"Sports Think Tank will be a home for showcasing the best academic research to policy makers in sport and Whitehall. We want to create a safe space where challenge to ideas and innovative thinking will be rewarded.

"We will be developing long term policy solutions based on the best evidence from the UK and internationally and provide a regular programme of papers, reports, roundtables and events where this will happen."

Lord Seb Coe added: "A sports think tank would be a great legacy from the 2012 games, enabling future generations to benefit from long term, well researched, and evidence-based sports policy making in the UK."

For more details, click here for www.sportsthinktank.com