A committee of MPs has stated that Britain's reputation as a capable host of international sporting events will rest with the outcome of the Games.

The Commons Culture, Media and Sport select committee said today that the success of the Games will help convince sporting bodies that the UK can be trusted to organise and host such events in the future.

In a progress report on the Games, Prime Minister Tony Blair came in for criticism for failing to re-appoint a minister with special responsibility for the games after the General Election. The report said Mr Ian McCartney's appointment in that role "galvanised the whole process and almost certainly saved the Games". It continued: "We were disappointed that these arrangements were not continued after last year's General Election ... and recommend that in future, when the Prime Minister has created such a successful structure, he should stick with it."

The report also added that the "legacy document" being produced after the games "should identify the central core of employees ... whose expertise should be available to other organisers of international sporting events in the UK to ensure our success as a host in the future".