The centrepiece of ministers' long-awaited Legacy Action Plan was a £140 million commitment to provide free swimming for the over-60s in England.

The move - described as a "first step" towards universal free swimming by 2012 - was warmly welcomed by campaigners for the elderly.

However, opposition parties said there was little else in the document to justify the £9 billion being spent on the Games.

Shadow Olympics minister Hugh Robertson said the plan would come as a "huge disappointment" to sport.

"Free swimming for pensioners, although worthy, hardly meets the promise to 'enable young people through sport' that was such a key part of our bid," he said.

Liberal Democrat Olympics spokesman Tom Brake said there was a "surprising lack of detail" on everything else other than the swimming.

"The biggest financial gains from the Olympics are meant to be from tourism, but there's nothing at all in this document about how British businesses can actually expect to benefit," he said. "Significant progress has been made but with £9 billion being spent, people are entitled to expect a decent legacy."

Other measures in the plan included a £1 million pilot scheme for subsidised gym membership for 16 to 22-year-olds to try to halt the drop off in sport among school leavers and a £7 million campaign to encourage people to walk more.

The Government said the legacy plan would be a "living document" which would be updated as new programmes are introduced over the coming four years.