Athletics, the showcase sport of the Olympics, received a funding cut before the London Games yesterday as sports chiefs rewarded the UK's most successful sports in Beijing.
According to UK press reports, the drop in funding from £26.5 million to £25.1 million — the biggest of any sport — was announced despite the overwhelming focus of public attention during the Games falling on the Olympic stadium. Athletics was one of only two sports — the other was badminton — to be dealt weaker financial resources compared with Beijing.
By contrast, the biggest investment in any sport is in rowing, in which six medals were won in Beijing, helping to earn it a 5.5 per cent increase to £27.4 million over the next four years.
Cycling, which was Britain’s most successful sport in Beijing, with 14 medals, received a 22 per cent increase in funding to £26.9 million.
Basketball and Hockey were under threat before a last-minute injection of cash from the Treasury on Tuesday night. They received a 137 per cent increase and a 43 per cent increase respectively.
A total of 12 sports were not allocated any funds, but will have to fight for a share of a £12 million contingency pot that could be topped up if UK Sport can attract private investment. They will learn their fate in January.
UK Sport, the funding agency for elite athletes, said its funding formula — used to divide £246.8 million among 19 Olympic sports and £45.6 million among 15 Paralympic sports — was driven by a “no compromise” principle of delivering medals.
Britain aims to match its performance in Beijing — the best medal haul for a century, with 19 golds, 13 silvers and 15 bronzes — by finishing fourth at the London Games, with more medals across more sports.
