The BBC poll also found that just one in five said the event would inspire them to take exercise.

And six out of 10 Londoners said there was nothing really in the games for them.

Simon Topman, chief executive of Acme Whistles based in Birmingham, told the BBC that information surrounding the games was "clouded in bureaucracy".

He said: "It's very hard to find out, despite the fact there are websites out there that you can visit, you have got to be pretty proactive and keep on the job yourself. There's all sorts of companies out there who are making things which aren't instantly obvious as connections to the Olympics, but can be."

The poll questioned 2,000 adults across the UK at the end of January for the BBC current affairs programme Inside Out.

A London 2012 spokeswoman said: "In a few months we will be handed the Olympic and Paralympic flags and our four year build up to the London 2012 Games will begin.

"Organisations, individuals, schools, sports facilities, communities and our dedicated Nations and Regions groups up and down the country are planning ways to get involved and we are committed to creating ways that can involve the whole of the UK.

"Since the BBC's research was commissioned we have announced our first two UK-wide initiatives - the London 2012 Business Network, and the Pre Games Training Camp Guide. These are good examples of how the regions will see strong benefits from the Games - to date, around 50% of Olympic Delivery Authority business contracts have been awarded to companies outside London, and of the facilities in our Pre-Games Training Camp Guide 85% are from outside London.

"These are just two UK wide initiatives that have been launched since the research was undertaken. There will be many more over the next four years, including cultural, education and volunteering programmes as we get ready to welcome the world in 2012."