A Record Investment in Britain’s Olympic and Paralympic UK Sports
UK Sport, the governing body responsible for funding elite sport in the United Kingdom, has announced a groundbreaking £330m investment in British Olympic and Paralympic sports ahead of the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. This funding boost represents a significant commitment to ensuring that British athletes remain competitive on the world stage, with more than 50 sports set to benefit. As part of this major financial package, new sports such as baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse, Para-climbing, and squash will also receive support, marking a shift in the diversity of sports vying for Olympic recognition.
The decision to allocate such a substantial amount of money has been described as a vital step toward preparing for the Los Angeles Olympics, which are less than four years away. UK Sport aims to ensure that athletes have the resources they need to excel, whether through equipment, training, or support staff, to give them the best chance of reaching their full potential. This marks a clear shift from the past, where some sports were given more funding based on past performances, but the new approach focuses on potential and the long-term goals of British athletes across multiple disciplines.
Increased Investment Despite Setbacks in Athletics
While the £330m funding allocation represents a huge investment in British sport, it’s worth noting that some traditional sports have seen their budgets reduced, most notably athletics. For the second consecutive cycle, UK Sport has reduced its funding for UK Athletics, which has faced challenges in maximizing its medal haul in recent Olympic Games. Despite the setbacks, UK Sport insists that this decision is based on potential and forward-looking performance assessments, rather than past achievements.
UK Sport has announced that UK Athletics will receive more than £30m to support both Olympic and Paralympic athletes, with a focus on the development of talent and supporting athletes in their quest for qualification and medals in Los Angeles. This amount is still significant, but the reduction of £1.725m has caused disappointment within the athletics community. Jack Buckner, CEO of UK Athletics, voiced his frustration, particularly in light of the sport’s performance at the 2023 World Championships and the 2024 Olympics, where they secured a total of 10 medals. Buckner argued that the strong performances in these events warranted higher investment to continue their development and improve their results for future competitions, including the Olympics.
New Olympic Sports and Funding Shifts
One of the most notable changes in the 2028 funding cycle is the inclusion of five new sports: baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse, Para-climbing, and squash. These sports have all received funding as they prepare for their debut at the 2028 Olympics. This shift highlights UK Sport’s broader vision for the future of the Olympics, which involves embracing a wider variety of sports to reflect modern interests and demographics.
Breaking, which made its Olympic debut in Paris this summer, will no longer receive support, as it was dropped from the Olympic programme following the Paris Games. This illustrates the constantly evolving nature of the Olympic landscape, with some sports gaining inclusion and others being removed. Despite this, UK Sport remains committed to ensuring that British athletes in both established and new Olympic sports are provided with the financial backing they need to succeed.
Total Funding Package Exceeds £400m
In addition to the £330m in direct funding for sports, the total financial commitment from UK Sport will exceed £400m when athlete performance awards (APAs) are included. APAs are paid directly to individual athletes and are designed to help cover their living and sporting costs, allowing them to focus entirely on their training and competitions. These performance-based awards are essential for supporting elite athletes and ensuring they can dedicate themselves fully to their sport without financial worries.
For the 2024 Paris Olympic cycle, approximately £70m was awarded in APAs, as part of a broader £385m funding package. This highlights the importance of direct athlete support in addition to the broader investments in sports organizations. The goal of UK Sport is to provide a comprehensive support system that includes financial backing for both the overall sport structures and the individual athletes who make up those structures.
Sally Munday, the CEO of UK Sport, emphasized that funding decisions should not be seen as rewards or punishments based solely on past performances, such as those seen in the Paris Games. Instead, UK Sport’s focus has been on the potential of each sport and athlete to succeed in the 2028 Olympics. This approach aims to ensure that the UK remains competitive in a wide range of sports, with an emphasis on long-term growth and success.
Support for Emerging Sports and Growing Ambitions
Among the biggest beneficiaries of the funding will be the British Basketball Federation, which has entered a new era of growth. The sport will receive £2.925m, with the focus of this funding on the development of the 3×3 format of basketball. This will give British athletes the opportunity to showcase their skills in a sport that has rapidly gained popularity and was included in the Tokyo Olympics for the first time in 2021. The increased funding for basketball reflects UK Sport’s commitment to supporting emerging sports and formats that resonate with a younger, more diverse audience.
Other sports that have seen adjustments in their funding allocations include canoeing, which had its budget cut by more than £500,000, and rowing, which has seen an increase in funding to £24.85m, up from £22.72m in the previous cycle. This shift in financial support highlights UK Sport’s ongoing focus on ensuring that the most promising sports are given the necessary backing to remain competitive on the world stage.
Aiming for Top Five in Los Angeles
The UK’s Olympic and Paralympic teams had a strong showing in the 2024 Paris Games, finishing seventh in the overall Olympic medal table with 65 medals. Although this was a respectable performance, UK Sport is aiming higher for Los Angeles 2028. Sally Munday has expressed the goal of consistently finishing in the top five in the medal table, which would be an improvement over the performance in Paris.
Munday emphasized that the funding decisions and future preparations would be forensic, analyzing every contributing factor to ensure that British athletes can consistently achieve better results. UK Sport is leaving “no stone unturned” in its approach to ensuring that the country’s athletes are fully prepared for the challenges of the 2028 Games. This includes a focus on athlete development, coaching, facilities, and other essential elements that contribute to success in the Olympic arena.
A Bright Future for British Sport
With the record £330m investment for the 2028 LA Games, UK Sport has committed to securing the future of British Olympic and Paralympic sport. This funding, alongside the £70m in APAs, will provide the foundation for athletes to train, compete, and achieve at the highest level. As the UK looks ahead to the 2028 Olympics, there is a clear determination to build on the successes of the past while addressing any shortcomings that may have contributed to a lower-than-expected medal haul in previous Games.
The aim for the UK is to consistently be among the world’s top five Olympic nations, and with this record funding package, it is well-positioned to continue its legacy of excellence in Olympic and Paralympic sport. As new sports come into the fold and established sports continue to evolve, UK Sport’s investment in British athletes will be pivotal in ensuring that they are ready to shine on the world stage in Los Angeles. With a forward-thinking approach and comprehensive funding, British sport is poised to thrive in the years leading up to the 2028 Olympic Games.
