Bankruptcy Rumour Hits Snowsportgb

The British team’s preparations for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver next year have been thrown into disarray following reports that SnowsportGB, the trading name of the British Ski & Snowboard Federation, is in deep financial trouble and faces bankruptcy – rumours that the organisation has strenuously denied.

Reports claimed that SnowsportGB, a not-for-profit organisation responsible for the British teams in Alpine Ski Racing and Snowboarding, is insolvent and has had to make cuts.

Speculation emerged that its coaches had not been paid and so athletes had not started crucial training for Vancouver in February. The body has made a number of staff redundant in coaching and administration and is advertising for a new chief executive for the organisation.

Based in Edinburgh, Snowsport GB has been beset by problems, losing two chief executives in five years.

It is understood that a number of athletes have now set up their own training programmes – paying their own expenses to train outside the UK.

Robin Kellen, interim chief executive of Snowsport GB, insisted yesterday a package had been put in place to allow the agency to function for the next four years but he conceded coaching had been delayed.

He said: ‘We are not bankrupt. Coaching staff have not been paid their full wages, but we anticipate the balance will be paid in the next two weeks.

‘Due to the financial problems we have had we haven’t been able to start the training programme.

‘It has been delayed, but coaching programmes will start this week and we anticipate the full training programmes will be delivered until the Winter Olympics and beyond.’

Kellen refused to be drawn on who was behind the rescue, but it is understood it involves a range of individual investors and bodies within the skiing community.