The Government must adopt a long-term approach to funding school sports or risk failing to secure an Olympic legacy, MPs warned today.

But a senior Bradford councillor says encouraging children in sport should be about more than continuing to ride the success of the 2012 Games, it should also be about the long-term health benefits.

The cross-party Education Select Committee has said £150 million ring-fenced funding for primary school sports championed by David Cameron is only in place for two years, and the group’s Tory chairman warned it could be seen as a “gimmick”.

The committee also questioned the Government’s emphasis on competitive sports, warning this could deter some children from taking part.

Bradford Council’s executive member for children and young people’s services Councillor Ralph Berry said pupils should be encouraged to be healthier generally.

“Whether it’s sporting activities, adventure play, forest schools, building dens, hill walking or whatever, it has to be something for every child, not just about those who want to win medals, important as that is,” he said.

In October 2010, Education Secretary Michael Gove announced that the previous Government’s Physical Education and Sports Strategy was being discontinued and that ring-fenced funding for School Sport Partnerships was to end.

Then, in March 2013, the Government announced new ring-fenced funding of £150m for two years from school year 2013/14 to provide primary school sport.

The Prime Minister claimed the move was “capitalising on the inspiration young people took from what they saw during those summer months” of 2012.

Coun Berry said that at a time when childhood obesity was an issue in the city, short-term funding would have no long-term benefits.

“We’re talking about sports achievement, but we’re building schools that don’t have any playing fields or we’re having to struggle to find access to fields. We’re trying our best to help, but the Government needs to help,” Coun Berry said.

“Headline-grabbing policies are one thing, but we need a long-term commitment.”