BOLTON boxing sensation Amir Khan is to help promote the 2012 London Olympic bid after being feted by the Government.

The 17-year-old, who won silver in this summer's Olympics in Athens, was the the Labour Party conference in Brighton yesterday to give the bid a boost.

He was singled out by Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell who announced that promising athletes could get up to £10,000 a year each to help fulfil their Olympic dreams.

She said the grants, which will form part of a new scholarship scheme, will help youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds.

They will be worth a total of £1 million, meaning about 100 students will benefit each year.

She said: "If we are to unleash the next Amir Khan or uncover a new Steve Redgrave, it is vital young, talented sports people have the support they need.

"These schemes do just that. I am confident that we will see it reap rewards on the podium of a London Olympics in 2012."

Amir said more money and more facilities were needed to get young people into sport. He welcomed the grants which are aimed at youngsters aged 12 to 18 which will help finance sophisticated training facilities, coaching, sports psychology and medicines.

They will help bridge the gap between school or junior club-level training and existing programmes for more senior athletes.

Sport England, the organisation which distributes lottery funding and encourages participation in sport, will give out the grants every year.

Nationwide sport governing bodies will identify youngsters who could benefit.

Roger Draper, chief executive of Sport England, said: "We very much hope to see people from this scheme competing in London in 2012."