SOUTHAMPTON diving star Peter Waterfield has revealed how London winning the 2012 Olympics has extended his career.

And Waterfield was able to explain the double boost lottery funding has had on him when he met Camelot chief executive Dianne Thompson at The Quays.

Thompson made a whistlestop visit to Southampton to see how £6.6m of lottery money was used in the building of the Eddie Read complex. She also met Waterfield, whose income solely comes from lottery cash enabling him to devote all his time to practising and competing.

Thompson is heading the long-term initiative which sees Camelot attempting to raise an extra £750m for the London Olympic bid.

In all, the 2012 Games will cost around £2.3 BILLION pounds.

Of that gigantic figure, £1.5bn will come via the lottery.

Even if London hadn't won the Games, the lottery would have diverted £750m to help fund the Great Britain team in 2012.

But because the capital got the nod, an extra £750m will now be raised through a series of special initiatives.

Waterfield said the thrill of London winning the 2012 Olympics is still immense almost a year on from the decision being made.

And he told Thompson of his debt to the lottery when they met.

"The lottery money is everything to me without it, I would have to get a job," said the Millbrook-based 2002 Commonwealth Games gold medallist.

"And if I want to compete against the best in the world, I can't train part-time."

Asked if he was one of the 70 per cent of British adults who regularly take part in the lottery every week, Waterfield quipped: "No, I'm not.

"I'm lucky enough to be paid by the lottery .. it would be asking a bit much to end up winning it as well!"

Waterfield added: "It's amazing to think the 2012 Olympics will be in this country. I'll be in my 30s by then but I want to compete in it, definitely. I made up my mind the day London was awarded the games.

"If London hadn't won the games, I don't know if I would be aiming to compete.

"At the moment I'm obviously focussing on Beijing, but London will be great.I'm sure there are divers in Southampton who also think they can compete in 2012. We've had a few people relocate to this area recently so they can use our facilities and get top coaching.We are now the best diving club in the country."