Sebastian Coe, Steve Redgrave, Kelly Holmes, Jonathan Edwards, Sally Gunnell and Duncan Goodhew will be the faces on the new scratchcards launched by Camelot after they commissioned a poll to find the nation's favourite Olympians.

The launch ran into controversy, however, after Camelot admitted that 1992 100 metres champion Linford Christie was not on the "prompt list" shown to those people who were surveyed by polling company Ipso Mori.

Camelot insists the top six names received the most votes from those who were unprompted, but the prompt list was drawn up on the advice of the British Olympic Association (BOA), who imposed a lifetime ban on Christie after he failed a drugs test for nandrolone carried out after his retirement from competitive running.

Also controversial was the omission of Daley Thompson, the 1980 and 1984 decathlon champion, voted the "Greatest British Sportsman of the 20th Century" by Channel 4.

A target of £750 million has been set to be raised from scratchcards for the London Games before 2012, and with £300 million already collected Olympics minister Tessa Jowell said the drive was well ahead of schedule.

Jowell said: "It has been a terrific achievement so far - we have raised more money, more quickly than we expected."

The latest game aims to drive awareness of 2012 in the build up to Beijing 2008.

There will be a different Olympic Champions scratchcard for each of the sports stars, who are pictured either in action or celebrating a winning performance.

The cards cost £2 each and offer the chance to win a range of instant cash prizes from £2 to £60,000.

Holmes, double Olympic champion in the 800m and 1500m in Athens four years ago, said she was thrilled to be chosen as one of the six.

She said: "I'm honoured that, thanks to the fantastic support I continue to receive from the British public, I've been invited to appear on the scratchcard."

Coe said: “It is an honour to be included in the list of people’s favourite Olympic Champions and particularly exciting in an Olympic Year.

“These scratchcards bring back some fantastic memories of past achievements. 

"Of course we are now looking forward to the Olympic champions of the future and this summer I hope the whole country will be supporting Team GB and Paralympic GB. 

“There is added interest since the sales of these scratchcards go towards funding the construction of sporting facilities for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012. 

"Indeed, at the closing of the Beijing Games the eyes of the world will turn to London. 

"That brings our plans at London 2012 into sharper focus but we will be ready.”

Redgrave topped the list of most memorable moments from any Olympics with the race where he won his fifth rowing gold medal at consecutive Games in Sydney 2000.

Holmes' achievements in Athens were voted the greatest British gold medal-winning performances at Olympics - Christie's triumph in Barcelona was third in that category.