The former coach of England's World Cup rugby winning side was overlooked for the prestigious position in favour of Andy Hunt, the chief executive of the British Olympic Association (BOA).

 

The post had become vacant after the depature of Simon Clegg, the former chief executive of the BOA.

 

Sir Clive told the Independent on Sunday in an interview published today that he was not upset at not being given the leading role.

 

He will be the Deputy Chef de Mission in Vancouver.

 

Sir Clive said: "I'm in charge of events up in the mountains at Whistler but I'm also looking at all the sports before and making sure we can deliver during those 17 days to see if we can produce a few things that will help the athletes do better.

 

"I never asked to be Chef de Mission, the role I have is the right one for me.

 

"If I'd wanted to be in charge I'd have applied to be chief executive of the BOA but I didn't want that, I wanted to be based on the performance side, which is my skill set.

 

"But I would have been very disappointed had I not been deputy."

 

Sir Clive said he is excited by Britain's prospects in Vancouver and London.

 

He said: "I'm enthused about the Winter Olympics because I am a big skier [his son is a ski instructor] and I think I can help us win medals there.

 

"We've had some great results recently with women's bobsleigh and bob skeleton, and snowboarder Zoe Gillings [whose programme he has helped to formulate].

 

"We now have some outstanding athletes and the winter sports world is getting worried about us.

 

"So it is time to put the Eddie the Eagle image behind us. We've got to move on and the only way to do so is be successful.

 

"All you want is for people to deliver their best performances and the medal table will look after itself. It was like that at the Rugby World Cup.

 

"The biggest thing for me to help deliver performances in both Vancouver and London is to get the talented athletes with world-class coaching and then anything is achievable.

 

"It is not just a case of having bundles of money. I've seen sports who have been given all the cash they wanted but if they've not got the right athletes and the right coaches they are not going to be successful.

 

"Some coaches say that without a lot of funding you can't win gold.

 

"That's a nonsense. I've always said you don't need a pot of gold to win gold.

 

"I do not believe that any lack of funding means you cannot get your best athletes on the podium in London.

 

"It's an excuse.

 

"If funding is not available you have to think of other ways of getting the job done.