Bitel, who has been in his post at the London Marathon since 1995, will succeed Richard Lewis, Britain's Sports Minister Hugh Robertson confirmed today, with a statement saying he will put the organisation in a "strong, stable position".

"I am delighted to be joining Sport England at what is a very exciting time for the organisation," said Bitel.

"London 2012 has given us a huge opportunity to deliver a real boost for community sport and Sport England is central to achieving this.

"I look forward to working with Jennie Price, her excellent team and Sport England's stakeholders and partners to encourage greater participation in sport and ensure a lasting, tangible legacy from the Games."

Baroness Tanni, one of Britain's greatest athletes with 11 gold Paralympic medals to her name, had been originally been tipped for the job, but, as reported by insidethegames yesterday, a number of Conservative Peers had tried to block her appointment, saying she was "too political".


It is thought objections were raised because of her fierce criticism of the Government's disability pension reforms.

Nevertheless, Baroness Tanni took the rejection graciously saying she "respected the decision".

"First and foremost, I would like to send my congratulations to Nick Bitel," she told insidethegames.

"My aim has always been to try to ensure the best for sport in the UK and to secure the grassroots legacy of London 2012 and in going for the position at Sport England it was my hope that I could continue that work.

"We need strong leadership on this issue to make sure it doesn't slip down the agenda.

"I do, of course, respect the Government's decision, and having worked with Nick Bitel on the Board of the London Marathon and LLDC (London Legacy Devlopment Corporation) and I have no doubt that he will do a fantastic job.

"Needless to say, I will continue to offer any support I can to Sport England and those other organisations that make sport more accessible in our society.

"It is a great privilege to sit as an independent Crossbench Peer in the House of Lords and I will continue to give my backing to whichever measures I believe are for the good of sport and wider society in the UK."


However, with Bitel now named as the new Sport England chair many have come out in support for Baroness Tanni, with some calling the process a "Government stitch-up".

Bitel denied any involvement in the recruitment process and said it was Baroness Tanni who gave him his reference when applying for the position.

"I have not been involved in any part of this process," he told insidethegames here today at the winners press conference of the Virgin London Marathon, which was held yesterday.

"I am very friendly with Tanni, she would make an excellent Sport England chair.

"I already serve on a couple of boards with her – she's on the board of the London Marathon, we're in the legacy corporation together.

"In fact, she was my original referee for the Sport England job.

"If she is appointed rather than myself I for one would be absolutely delighted and I would be very willing to work with her because I think she would be an excellent person to do the job.

"Maybe they're lucky they've got two good candidates."


Bitel, who is also one of Britain's top sports lawyers and Board Member of the London Legacy Development Corporation, will be paid £40,000 ($61,000/€47,000) per year for working an average of two days a week.

Robertson added that there had been a strong field of applications for the position and it was important to get "the very best people in place".

"Nick Bitel has run the most successful mass participation sports event in this country for almost 20 years," he explained.

Meanwhile, Bitel says he will continue to work as chief executive for the London Marathon.

"When I applied [for the job as chair of Sport England] I said that I'd want to continue as chief executive of the London marathon and we'll see whether or not that is something they wish for me to do," he told insidethegames.

"If they want me to be the chair it's on the basis that I'm the chief executive of the marathon."

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