Team GB chief Simon Clegg yesterday issued a rallying cry to Great Britain's Olympic hopefuls, calling on the athletes to end what he described as a ''sorry summer'' for British sport by claiming medals in Athens.

Aside from England's cricketing success against the West Indies and New Zealand, recent months have not been a huge success for UK sport.

Most recently, David Millar's shock admission to taking the performance-enhancing drug EPO and his subsequent two-year ban and exclusion from the British squad has placed a black cloud over the team's preparations for the Olympics.

But with just two days to go until the opening ceremony declares the Athens Games open, the British chef de mission used the team's final pre-Games press conference to throw down the gauntlet.

''I hope the sorry summer of British sport is about to come to an end here in Athens,'' said Clegg, speaking at Athens' plush Politia tennis club.

''I want all the athletes to leave here with their heads held high, having given everything, because if they don't they will regret it for the rest of their lives.

''I want them to take memories that they will treasure and be able to tell their children about.''

While the Olympic team have had to deal with the Millar scandal, events elsewhere have also hardly given the British sporting public something to be proud of.

The 'Sven-gate' scandal at the FA has been a PR disaster for England's football bosses and the national team also failed to deliver at Euro 2004, with yet another penalty shoot-out exit in the quarter-finals against Portugal.

On the rugby pitch England's world champions of 2003 have since become the world chumps of 2004, having lost their Six Nations crown before three defeats on tour to New Zealand and Australia, with Scotland also on the receiving end of two defeats against the Aussies.

But Clegg is convinced Britain's athletes in Athens can put smiles back on the faces of Britain's sports fans.

''I believe the whole country is waiting for something to happen,'' added Clegg.

''The preparation is almost over and it is time to perform.''

Clegg stressed that all the athletes have enjoyed successful training camps and are itching to get started on their assault for medals.

He reiterated his previous comments that a medals total of 25 - three less than the amount won in Sydney four years ago - was ''definitely achievable'' and rejected suggestions that the lower prediction indicates a diminishing quality in British athletics.

''We are in genuine medal contention in 16 of the 21 sports,'' said Clegg.

''You can't expect immediate and continuous improvement at every Olympics. Sometimes it's a case of what happens on the day.

''In Sydney we got several early medals and that boosted confidence right through the team.

''A lot depends on whether we get off to a good start on the medal front. If we do then I feel we can reach our medal target.''

Clegg, however, did admit the fact that this year's Olympics team is the smallest ever does not reflect well on British sport.

''We do have the smallest team at an Olympics and I can't deny that's a cause for concern for the future,'' he said.

''But this is only the second Olympics for which athletes have had lottery funding so we have to have a little patience.''

Judo player Kate Howey will be Britain's flag-bearer at tomorrow night's Olympic Games opening ceremony.

The 31-year-old from Andover, who won silver at Sydney four years ago and bronze in 1992 at Barcelona, will lead the British team and officials into the Olympic Stadium.

Britain will be the 110th team to enter the stadium during the ceremony, which begins at 8:45pm local time (6:45pm BST), between Mauritania and Mexico.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair will be among the spectators at the revamped stadium with its spectacular roof, which will stage athletics events and the men's football final.

Meanwhile, Tim Henman has been seeded fourth for the Olympic tennis tournament which gets under way on Sunday.

World number one and Wimbledon champion Roger Federer is the top seed, with US Open champion Andy Roddick number two.

Spain's Carlos Moya is seeded three with Henman fourth, ahead of former French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Justine Henin-Hardenne is the top seed in the women's singles despite an injury-hit season, with Amelie Mauresmo, winner of the Rogers Cup in Montreal on Sunday, number two.

French Open champion Anastasia Myskina is the third seed.