The plan is for two or more top British universities to fund and run an institute next to the Olympic Park, and has already been discussed with the Russell Group – representative of British universities that receive two thirds of the Government’s research funding allocation.

Olympics chiefs are said to be in favour of an arrangement whereby more than one university runs the institute, which will specialise in sport and science.

Higher education has been placed at the top of the Olympics ‘legacy’ agenda – the housing left over from the games is hoped to provide students from the surrounding universities and colleges with cheap accommodation.

Hackney Wick, just to the West of the Olympic Park, will see the construction of a permanent 1.3 million square metre media centre. The Olympic Park Regeneration Steering Group, attended by government ministers, Mr Johnson and the leaders of the five Olympic boroughs will launch the study next month.