Sussex could still play host to international competitors if Britain wins the 2012 Olympic bid, Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell has said.

There was widespread disappointment last month when none of the competition venues named was in the county.

However, Ms Jowell said national teams could be sent to Sussex if top-class facilities were available.

She made the remarks after Labour MP Laura Moffatt urged the Government to take advantage of a £37 million sports centre being built in her Crawley constituency.

Crawley Borough Council is replacing its leisure centre in Haslett Avenue with a world-class arena on the Thomas Bennett Community College campus.

A 50-metre Olympic-standard swimming pool, one of only two in the South-East, could be used as a training pool for visiting countries.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Ms Moffatt said: "We in Crawley are desperate to share what will be first-class facilities to be completed next year.

"We would like to be able to show the world that the Olympic bid is not just about London but about the ability for the rest of the country to contribute. For us, it will be the icing on the cake."

Ms Jowell confirmed the venues for the competitive part of the games had been decided and were focused on London, where they would "best fit the needs of the athletes and Olympic sports".

But she said: "If we win the bid, sporting facilities across the country will be used by teams for training camps and at that time Sport England will look at the range of facilities available.

"I could not agree more about the importance of ensuring that the benefits of the Olympics spread throughout the United Kingdom, including Crawley."