by Stuart Weir
More bad news for UK Athletics
This week, the government agency responsible for investing money into Olympic and Paralympic sports in the United Kingdom revealed that £330 million ($418m/€400m) worth of funding will be invested into more than 50 sports ahead of the Los Angeles Olympics and Paralympics. The official statement said, “
“This investment bolsters UK Sport’s mission to create the greatest decade of extraordinary sporting moments, reaching, inspiring, and uniting the nation.” As part of the process, UK Sport spent a year planning, together with sports, “to understand their performance strategies and ambitions for LA and any specific financial needs due to anticipated changes ahead in the sport.”
Athletics will receive £20.45 Million ($26 million), a significant sum but nearly £ 2 million less than for Paris. UKA CEO Jack Buckner commented: “Lottery funding has been transformational for British sport. UK Athletics is incredibly thankful to the British public and the National Lottery for supporting our athletes in preparing to compete at the Olympic and Paralympic games. Given the many challenges we face today, this country’s continued support of sport creates opportunities and magic moments that inspire the nation. We are conscious of this responsibility and will continue to work hard to deliver this in the years ahead.
“In the last couple of years, we have rebuilt athletics in the UK with our many partners and are very grateful to all of you. Thanks must go to the athletes, the staff at UKA, the coaches, volunteers, clubs, and home nations who are the backbone of our great sport – the most inclusive, dynamic, and democratic in the Olympic and Paralympic movement.
“We’d like to thank UK Sport for the increased investment in our Paralympic World Class Programme. The para-athletics environment continues to grow and become increasingly competitive as more countries invest in para-sport performance. This increase will help ensure GB & NI para athletes continue receiving support towards global medals during the next cycle.
“At the same time, we are disappointed we did not receive the settlement we hoped for from UK Sport for the Olympic program. We felt the progress we have made in the last few years, culminating in 10 medals in both the World Championships and the Olympics, not to mention the wholesale improvements in governance and our events and commercial model, deserved a higher level of investment. Unfortunately, UK Sport cannot be convinced of the merits of our case at this time.
“Whilst our budgets will be tighter for the next four years, we shall keep building momentum and finding ways to support athletes to realize their potential at major championships. We can assure our many great athletes, coaches, and volunteers of our absolute commitment to support your aspirations to succeed in our sport”.
Figures from the LA 2028 Investment Funding Awards overview. UK SPORT
