UK Sport has signalled its intent for the UK to become successful in a wider range of sports and build a high-performance sports community which reflects the diversity of British society.
The shift is supported by a plan for investment of £352m into an increased number of sports (43) in the build up to the postponed Tokyo Games, through to the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond.
The support provided by government and The National Lottery also allows UK Sport to look to the athletes of the future who are targeting success at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games and beyond.
As 36 sports, more than ever before, receive World Class Programme funding, the seven Progression investments mark the start of a programme of support in the long-term medal potential of new and exciting sports. The seven sports are basketball, climbing, fencing, skateboarding, surfing, table tennis and weightlifting.
New additions to the Olympic programme, climbing, skateboarding and surfing will receive investment, along with the four other sports. Together, they will play an important role in a wider shift to take a 12-year view of success and kick-start the search for the next generation of Olympic and Paralympic champions.
A new £3m fund will open next year to support sports that did not secure Progression investment with the costs of forming and fielding national squads. This will enable athletes in these sports to attend major international championships and access other events that form the critical path to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, providing a platform on which these athletes can perform, seek Games qualification and build a future case for investment.
Sally Munday, CEO of UK Sport said the funding signals UK Sport’s future ambition to broaden the areas in which it achieves global success and also deepens its societal impact.
“This means supporting more sports via the World Class Programme and Progression Funding than ever before, as well as welcoming more athletes and staff from varied backgrounds into our high-performance sporting community so we better reflect the diversity of the country we represent.
“As a sector we must be better at reaching, connecting and inspiring the British public in order to deepen our societal impact in communities across the country, using the exceptional power of sport and our platform in the British conscious.”
