Where to Ski And Snowboard - Funding given for British ski teams

Funding given for British ski teams

3rd March 2012, by Chris Gill

Sochi - Olympic venue for 2014

British Ski and Snowboarding will get up to £348,450 UK Sport has announced. The high performance sports agency has said the money is to be invested in the British athletes’ preparations for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games.

Following the collapse of SnowsportGB prior to the Vancouver 2010 winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, UK Sport had been unable to invest in the snow sports until the full establishment of the new British Ski and Snowboard national governing body. Now, they are confident of that a programme is in place to support training and funding for our snow sport athletes, hopefully towards British competitors bringing home medals in 2014.

This initial short term award, running to September 2012, will allow the sport to support their athletes for the remainder of the current competition season, and up to the next review point. UK Sport will then consider the sport’s organisational development and performance progress, and whether to make a further award for the reminder of the Sochi cycle (up to April 2014).

The award is focused mainly at the new Olympic ski/board slope-style disciplines, where Britain currently has a number of athletes who have been on the podium at world cup events. The money also adds to the existing £11.3 million of National Lottery and Government Exchequer funding into British winter Olympic and Paralympic sports.

Chief Executive of British Ski and Snowboard David Edwards said, “We are delighted that UK Sport shares our view of the potential for our athletes to win medals in Sochi and future Olympic events and we are very grateful for the support announced today. With the help of the BOA we have achieved a tremendous amount for Snowsport in Great Britain in the last two years. With this game changing award from UK Sport the bar is now set higher. We look forward to the next two years with huge enthusiasm.”

Update to the above news item:

In relation to our previous photograph accompanying this news item, we have since found out that Chemmy Alcott is not involved in this announcement and is not receiving any funding from this award. We would, of course, like to apologise to Chemmy.