Basketball Given Glimmer of Hope with UK Sport Investment Review

British Basketball were given a slice of optimism as UK Sport announced they will consider wider factors like participation in future funding decisions, however, only “if required to make investment decisions around sports of equal medal potential.”

The announcement came following the results of a strategic review of its performance investment policy to begin to determine the way the organisation will invest in sports beyond Rio 2016. The review also included recommendation of “a more joined up approach” from UK Sport, to prevent team sports falling into the perceived gaps between UK- and Home Country level funding – something the body said they will look to do.

Also of potential benefit to basketball is the news UK Sport will “consider investing for a longer period of time (than the current 8 year cycle) where there is a performance need if finances allow”.

But medals will still be the main deciding factor. The consultation revealed 86% of sport/partner and 70% of public respondents endorse UK Sport continuing to focus on Olympic and Paralympic medal success as a key goal.

The UK Sport Board was asked to consider the findings of an extensive stakeholder and public consultation, facilitated by independent market and opinion research consultancy ComRes, to determine the best way to build on the success of the UK high performance system to date.

“UK Sport has proven its ability to deliver Olympic and Paralympic medal success over a period of 18 years, and it is essential that we continue to refine our investment policy to ensure we remain competitive on the world stage and deliver the best possible return on our investment while continuing to build on the system that helps our talented athletes achieve medal success,” UK Sport CEO, Liz Nicholl, said.

“We will always have to operate within finite resources, but we understand the desire from sports and partners in the sector, as well as the public, for us to be able to extend the impact of our investment into more sports. We will now work to develop a clear, prioritised and costed plan, in line with our Board’s direction, and in collaboration with Government, to ensure we are ready to implement our new policy in time for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic investment cycle.”

Minister for Sport Helen Grant added:

“I welcome UK Sport continuing to focus on medals and medallists to help Britain succeed in future Olympic and Paralympic Games, and to keep up the momentum from London 2012 and Sochi. But I am also pleased that it is open to taking the broader value of its investment into account in its funding decisions.”

British Basketball’s UK Sport funding was cut entirely last year, but their immediate future was secured in November thanks to £1.8m of emergency public funding from Sport England.