British Cycling Unveils Bmx Freestyle Growth Plans
British Cycling has announced plans to grow the sport of BMX freestyle after its debut in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, as well as GB success in the discipline.
The announcement also follows a million pound investment in community facilities, and is aimed at nurturing the grassroots of the sport, encouraging more people to get involved, and sustaining success at the elite level.
The governing body for cycling in the UK says that it has laid the foundations for the work to grow the sport thanks to the Places to Ride fund, in partnership with Sport England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, which has seen more than £1 million of investment in facilities across five sites and the training ramps used by gold medallist Charlotte Worthington (pictured above) and bronze medallist Declan Brooks.
The investments include a mix of facilities to support participation, talent development, and events, including Asylum Skatepark in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Adrenaline Alley in Corby, Junction 4 Skatepark in Darwen, an Olympic standard Freestyle Park – whose home will be decided ‘in the coming months’.
A new BMX Freestyle Commission will also be created with the aim of supporting the plans, and will work with existing organisers, facilities and partners to develop a national competition structure from 2022; create education and training opportunities for coaches, judges and event organisers; establish a talent pathway with the introduction of a network of talent development centres in 2022 linked to facilities; engage with the BMX freestyle community to support grassroots development and grow awareness of how young people and adults can get involved; and work in partnership with facilities to encourage more women to have a go and ensure access for local communities.
“BMX freestyle, thanks to the heroic performances of Charlotte and Declan at the Tokyo Olympics, has captured the attention of the whole country so I am delighted to be announcing our ambitions for this exciting discipline of cycle sport,” said Dani Every, British Cycling Delivery Director.
“With the support of a commission which features expertise from the BMX freestyle community across facilities, coaching, judging and former elite riders, we have begun the serious business of ensuring the hard-earned achievements of Charlotte and Declan deliver a long-term legacy.
“Our plans are aimed at producing medallists of the future but – just as importantly – also encouraging sustainable growth of BMX freestyle at community level and providing, for the first time, a structure of national competition. BMX freestyle, as well as BMX racing, are vitally important to British Cycling as we work to fulfil our commitment to make cycling more accessible and more relevant to more people in more communities across the country.”
Andy Farr, Head of Business Planning and Transformation, British Cycling added: “Our insight and community-led approach to facility investment means BMX freestyle represents a significant opportunity to encourage more people to try the sport with the right funding in the right places.
“The five facilities plus the modular freestyle ramps we have supported via the Places to Ride fund will provide important community, regional and national infrastructure to support development of the sport and provide opportunities across the pathway from recreation to talent development and events.”
Image: Shutterstock
