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BOA Reaction to Funding Announcement for 2012 Sports

03 Dec 2008

Commenting on UK Sport’s funding allocation announcement today, BOA Chief Executive, Andy Hunt said:

“It is disappointing that, despite extensive lobbying we find ourselves in the position now, just three months after the most successful Olympic Games for Great Britain in 100 years, where the Government has failed to honour their funding promise to all our Olympic sports. Andy Burnham and his Department’s (DCMS) valued work to reduce the shortfall in funding for our members’ sports is appreciated. UK Sport has had to make some difficult investment decisions, having been clearly instructed to make commitments to athletes and training resources with the full £600 million funding package in mind.

For those sports that have learnt today that they face an uncertain financial future, two years of planning and investment has been thrown up in the air. Whilst those sports may have fallen short of the medal rostrum in 2012, the promised government investment would have given them the opportunity to develop their athletes’ talents and their resources as a whole. A wider base of participation is crucial to the long term delivery of medal success and the BOA is deeply concerned that the opportunity to find the Chris Hoy of table tennis or the Rebecca Adlington of volleyball in future Olympic Games has been put in jeopardy.

As Host Nation in 2012, as opposed to previous Games, all our sports are effectively pre-qualified to compete which is why it is so disheartening that such a unique opportunity for our athletes to be a part of a home Olympic Games is now uncertain.

The performance of Team GB in Beijing this summer captivated a nation; British athletes competing in 2012 will have a positive effect on an entire generation. Young people will be inspired to take up sport and we will all be lifted by the performances of our sporting heroes. A legacy for sport and young people was the foundation of London’s bid to host the Olympic Games and the Government recognised this through their £600 million commitment, thus the BOA is very disappointed that they have now fallen short of that pledge.

There are 1332 days till London hosts the Olympic Games and for some of our sports today has marked a drastic set back in their preparations. Working with UK Sport, the BOA will offer its vast experience of raising funds in the Olympic world to explore practical ways in which we can assist those sports in the months and years ahead.”

Ends.

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