Lord Moynihan, chair of the British Olympic Association (BAO), has called for a change in direction to ensure a lasting sporting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Speaking at the National Sports Development Seminar in Sheffield, Moynihan said plans to increase participation at all levels of sports needed re-evaluation so that the opportunity of tapping into the interest created by the Games is not lost.

He said current plans were a "long way" from ensuring that participation levels in sport will increase post-2012.

He also warned that there was a danger of the Olympics suffering from "the Wimbledon factor" with short term interest not being sustained.

"We need a change in policy and engage national governing bodies, local authorities and sports clubs to make sure a legacy is delivered successfully," he said.

"At the moment the structure of our sporting system is too top heavy, cumbersome and bureaucratic.

"Funding is an issue too. Around £19 of public money is spent on sport, per person, in England while in Scotland the investment is three times that."

He added that while the "box for sporting legacy remains unticked", plans to improve infrastructure around the Olympic venues is advancing well.

"The regeneration of East London is a box we have ticked as far as legacy goes," he said.

The Sports Development Seminar is an annual event organised by the Institute for Sports, Parks and Leisure (ISPAL).

Other key note speakers at this year's event included Baroness Sue Campbell, chair of UK Sport; Phil Lane, chief executive of the British Paralympic Association; and Peter Ackerley, head of development, England and Wales Cricket Board.