As a former pugilist, the British Olympic Association's chairman, Colin Moynihan, is adept at the jab.

At today's press event in the Tate Modern, faced by media set on questioning his increasingly egregious stance with regard to upping the cut - or should that be uppering the cut? - which the BOA would get from any London 2012 surplus, Moynihan flicked out an opening jab that set those facing him on the back foot.

"Now before I open the proceedings," he said, "I know that some of our friends of the press have a different agenda, so in the interests of the Olympic athletes and the Olympic sporting legacy for this country, I can report that good progress was made over the weekend, and at our request the Government has agreed to a meeting to discuss an amicable resolution to the current contractual dispute."

There followed an equally nippy retreat to the safety of his corner as he added that "in the circumstances" it would not be proper to offer any further comments on the day.

In moving on to the reason for the press gathering in the plush surrounds of the gallery's Starr Auditorium – the news that 27 illustrious former Olympians would be providing advice and support for Britain's London 2012 competitors in the role of voluntary Ambassadors – Moynihan described the imminent Games as "a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for British sport".

Moynihan's critics, who seem suddenly numerous and vocal, suggest that he is currently energised by a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the BOA.

But any opportunity to further question the noble Lord about his plans, ahead of tomorrow morning's chinwag with the Minister for Sport and the Olympics, Hugh Robertson, was to be frustrated.

Having said his piece, Moynihan (pictured) effectively removed himself from the proceedings by handing over to the two former athletes chosen from the illustrious throng present to publicise their new roles–five-times Olympic champion Sir Steven Redgrave, and double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes.

Before the illustrious pair did their bit, however, there was a screening of an accompanying video. Which mixed treasured archive of the moments in which many of those present had defined themselves in British sporting history with sound bites from the likes of Sir Clive Woodward, the BOA's handsomely remunerated Director of Elite Performance and touching additional comments from children who, so far as I could see, were not credited.

It was an impressive production. On a par with the charming and inventive film aired by the team bidding to bring the 2012 Games to London, who now form that dread acronym LOCOG – and from whose board meetings Moynihan and his colleague Andy Hunt are now banned while their dispute over the Olympic surplus endures.

But as the credits faded, the thought remained: what was this no doubt costly video for? The 2005 effort involving the likes of Leytonstone's very own David Beckham had a clear purpose – to please and persuade those International Olympic Committee members whose votes would be required to bring the 2012 Games to London.

What purpose was there in this latest effort? No one needed to be persuaded of anything. It was not as if there was a strong lobby against former Olympians doing their bit to support aspiring current Olympians. "Oi, Olympian, leave those kids alone!" "Let the young ones make their own mistakes!"

So there was something indulgent about it.

And after the two model role models had played their part in explaining the BOA's goodhearted new scheme, addressing their comments to an auditorium in which the front row was filled with 17 of their peers, the inevitable surge towards the small figure at the centre of the proceedings produced an inevitable result.

As the TV lights sought his face, and reporters shouted out his name in vain – why do reporters do that when they know someone is not going to speak to them? Is it because they feel they can at least justify their efforts with proof that they tried? – the BOA chairman bundled his way out the Starr Auditorium, which was clearly beginning to feel more like the Star Chamber.

Nobody had been able to land a blow on him.

But if Moynihan lived to fight another day, he clearly had a very difficult bout ahead of him the following morning as he faced the man now occupying the role Moynihan himself filled from 1987-1990 before moving on to another tricky contest at the meeting of British sport's national governing bodies, in which he will doubtless be asked to justify the costs of taking the BOA case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

A good jab and fancy footwork can only take you so far.

Mike Rowbottom, one of Britain's most talented sportswriters, has covered the last five Summer and four Winter Olympics for The Independent. Previously he has worked for the Daily Mail, The Times, The Observer, the Sunday Correspondent and The Guardian. He is now chief feature writer for insidethegames