The Prime Minister has
confirmed £50 million to support British athletes to help the UK
remain an Olympic and Paralympic powerhouse at Tokyo
2020.
The funding is part of the Government’s
ongoing commitment to British sport, and will be used to support
our elite athletes’ final year of preparation in the run up to
the Games.
The support will help fulfil UK Sport’s
ambition to deliver more medals and medallists to inspire the
nation at the Olympic and Paralympic Games next year.
For the first time, Para Taekwondo, Para
Badminton, Sport Climbing, Karate and BMX Freestyle are all
receiving UK Sport funding to help them compete at
Tokyo.
Prime Minister said:
“The UK has repeatedly shown itself to be an
Olympic and Paralympic powerhouse, with our athletes putting in
truly extraordinary performances over multiple Games.
“This further investment means we are right
behind our elite athletes, backing them every step of the way as
they strive towards medal success at Tokyo 2020.
“I have no doubt their efforts will inspire
the nation, encouraging even more people to get involved in sport
– just as we saw after our record-breaking performances at London
2012 and Rio 2016.
“And we must continue to build on our legacy
of London 2012, which gave us a fantastic opportunity to showcase
the incredible talent in our country, and deliver real lasting
change across sport and our local communities.”
UK Sport’s strategic investment over the past
two decades has led to record-breaking performances by the
country’s National Lottery funded athletes at successive Olympic
and Paralympic Games.
After Team GB and ParalympicsGB incredible
medal haul at London 2012, the UK became the first host nation in
history to better both its Olympic and Paralympic performance at
the next Games.
UK Sport has outlined that it wants to
increase the number of sports Team GB and ParalympicsGB are
successful in at Tokyo 2020.
This investment will build on the legacy of
the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, which led to
significant improvements across sport facilities, the
regeneration of East London and increased economic growth.
, Secretary of State for
Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said:
“We are rightly regarded as one of the world’s
greatest Olympic and Paralympic nations and we want it to stay
that way.
“Our support for our elite athletes is
unwavering. Their efforts make the country proud, promote the
best of the UK abroad and help to inspire a more healthy, active
nation.”
Dame Katherine Grainger, chair of UK
Sport, said:
“Since the introduction of National Lottery
funding nearly 25 years ago, Great Britain has been transformed
into a world-renowned sporting powerhouse. This achievement,
which has seen Great Britain’s remarkable rise from 36th place to
2nd place in the Olympic medal table over just twenty years, did
not happen by chance.
“Strategic investment, strong leadership,
ambitious goals, working in partnership and surrounding talented
athletes with world leading expertise in coaching, talent
development, sport science and medicine are just some of the
factors that have driven this great British success story.
“The investment that has recently been
confirmed by Government will allow us to support the critical
final year of preparations through to the Tokyo Games, and will
give our athletes the best chance to achieve their dreams and
inspire the whole nation through Olympic and Paralympic
success.”
Richard Kilty, the 2014 World Indoor
60m champion and double European indoor champion in 2015 and
2017, said:
“Thanks to the fantastic continued support
from both Government and The National Lottery, we will be
one of the best prepared teams heading into the Olympic and
Paralympic Games next year.
“It’s going to be a really exciting year ahead
for all athletes as we count down to Tokyo and this support puts
us in the best possible shape to achieve our dreams.”
Notes to editors:
- The £50 million investment is for April 2020 to March 2021,
fulfilling the commitments that UK Sport has made in the Tokyo
cycle.
- The total Government and National Lottery investment in the
four years to Tokyo is approximately £345 million.
