Seven Sports Lose Funding Appeals

21 Feb 2017 | tshego

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Seven sports have lost appeals against UK Sport over funding cuts for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic cycle.

The appeals were submitted by archery, badminton, goalball, fencing, table tennis, weightlifting and wheelchair rugby who will receive no funding.

Great British Badmintion said in a statement it was “staggered” by the decision to cut the sport’s funding despite Marcus Ellis and Chris Langridge meeting its medal targets, winning bronze for Team GB in the men’s doubles at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Powerlifting was successful in its appeal against UK Sport’s decision to pass on management of the GB powerlifting programme. It means that the sport’s £1.3m funding will be managed by British Weightlifting and not the English Institute of Sport, as was the case before the 2016 Olympics.

Wheelchair rugby has been stripped of £750,000 in funding, whilst the Rugby Football Union gives around £100,000 per year in funding, there are now fears the elite team could fold.

GB Badminton said in a statement: “Given the strength of evidence we were able to present to justify investment, we cannot believe UK Sport has concluded they should stand by their decision and award zero funding to our GB programme.

“We have players who are on track to win medals for the nation at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and our belief in those players remains as great as it’s ever been. We will now take some time to consider our next steps.”

UK Sport, chief executive, Liz Nicholl said: “The sports that made representations were unable to provide any critically compelling new evidence that changed our assessment of their medal potential for Tokyo.

“Their position in our meritocratic table therefore remains unchanged and they remain in a band we cannot afford to invest in.

“This is the first time we’ve been unable to support every sport that has athletes with the potential to deliver medals at the next Games. We don’t take these decisions lightly as we’re acutely aware of the impact they have on sports, athletes and support personnel.

“To support those affected, we have put in place a comprehensive transition and support package and are working closely with these sports to help staff and athletes move out of UK Sport funding.”