Commonwealth Games: Bigger England Team for Melbourne

London's hosting of the 2012 Olympic Games has saved England from having to field its smallest Commonwealth Games team for over 50 years.

In Manchester in 2002, 640 athletes represented England. But a shortfall in sponsorship had led to fears that a team only half that size would travel to Melbourne in March.

After London's success, however, Sport England has promised to help send as many as 580 competitors to Australia. "We are delighted by this move from Sport England," said a spokeswoman for the Commonwealth Games Council for England. "It will make a huge difference, especially to young athletes."

"What we have said to the CGCE is that we will underwrite the £350,000 shortfall in terms of the team," said Roger Draper, the chief executive of Sport England.

The CGCE had originally planned to send an athletics team of 110, but at the trials in Manchester this month the selectors amended their original policy of picking the first two qualified athletes over the line to choosing only the winner instead.

Now any competitor who has achieved the qualifying criteria set by the CGCE will be guaranteed a place. "We are not willing to compromise on quality," said Draper. "We have said it doesn't mean we are sending over Team England for a holiday. We have always said we are committed to quality and winning medals."

England won a record 165 medals in Manchester, including 54 gold, to finish second behind Australia - with 207 medals, 82 of them gold - in the final medals table.

Glasgow is continuing its plans to bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games after a feasibility study presented to the Scottish Executive concluded that it would not be affected by London hosting the 2012 Olympics. The Scottish Executive would provide funding for the event, not the British government.

"It is in the hands of the politicians, but on what we have read, the 2014 games are worth bidding for," said Louise Martin of the Scottish Commonwealth Games Council.