Eight Sports Appeal Funding Cuts

17 Jan 2017 | tshego

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Seven sports are challenging UK Sport’s decision to remove their funding for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, with one another asking for further funding.

Badminton, goalball, table tennis, archery, fencing, weight lifting and wheelchair rugby will all be bidding for a reprieve, with the sport of powerlifting also challenging its award relating to UK Sport’s decision to pass on management of the GB powerlifting programme.

Badminton is one of five sports that lost funding following the Rio Olympic Games, while goalball was not funded at all in 2016 and table tennis was only awarded Paralympic funds for Tokyo 2020.

All sports must notify UK Sport of their intent on challenging the decision today, 17th January.

At the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, badminton brought home a bronze medal with Chris Langridge and Marcus Ellis bettering the target set by UK Sport.

Badminton England chief executive Adrian Christy told the BBC: “We’ve got a really strong case. Our understanding is that UK Sport doubt our Olympic medal credentials.

“However, we have players who have not only won Olympic medals but also won world tour titles and super-series titles and these are the biggest events in our sport and we are regularly beating the best in the world.”

Ashley Metcalfe, British Weight Lifting CEO, said: “Our decision to appeal the funding that has been awarded to powerlifting is not based on our disapproval of the financial support that will be provided to the sport, but relates to UK Sport’s decision to pass on the management of the GB powerlifting programme from British Weight Lifting to the EIS.

“We are entering a new funding cycle off the back of a fantastic Games in Rio, where we returned with two Paralympic medals – silver for Ali Jawad and bronze for Zoe Newson, exceeding our medal target set by UK Sport.

“We have proven that our World Class Programme can deliver world-class athletes and that the coaches, facilities and wider support staff we have in place at British Weight Lifting can deliver medals on the sport’s biggest stage. Whilst we are very supportive of the EIS and the work that it does with not just our athletes, but all sports, we believe strongly against UK Sport’s decision to change the management of the GB powerlifting programme and will be taking the necessary steps to challenge this decision.”

Evidence of ‘talent pathways’ for young athletes and correct governance need to be shown, however, any pitch for funding requires proof that the sport has genuine medal prospects for the next Olympic Games.

UK Sport will reveal its findings by the end of February, with the option for a formal appeal to the ‘Sports Resolutions’ board available after the announcement.