British Basketball Nervously Awaits UK Sport Decision on Funding

Judgement day for British Basketball fast approaches, as UK Sport will announce on Tuesday whether or not they will continue to fund the sport through to 2016.

UK Sport officials are meeting on Friday to make the decision, which, if they are to continue funding British Basketball will require them to look past the sport missing key performance targets set last year.

British Basketball Chairman Roger Moreland has admitted there is “nervousness” about the decision, but remains positive.

“In football terms, what we have achieved is going from League Two to the Champions League in the space of seven years,” he told Press Association Sport. “That is an enormous performance leap.”

“Yes, we did not qualify for the world championships which was the target for last year, but you can either take a snap-shot based on one year or look at other progress being made over time. I would be foolish if I said there was not nervousness but UK Sport has shown belief in where we can go.”

Basketball was initially handed zero funding post-2012, but won an appeal last year to be awarded £7million through to 2016, but the final years’ money is a conditional basis which required British Basketball to meet “strict performance criteria”.

Meanwhile, GB veteran Kieron Achara has issued a heartfelt plea on his Facebook page to UK Sport Chiefs.

It reads:

“First of all I want to thank UK Sport for giving me the opportunity to reach goals I never thought were possible as a wee/big boy growing up in Scotland. With the initial funding UK Sport provided it allowed me to focus solely on improving as a player since the funding took care of all the external things such as, medical attention, travel, nutritional needs, and strength and conditioning. Without this I would have never have been an OLYMPIAN. Yes I used capital letters to elaborate on how big a deal this is to me.

“Being an Olympian means the world to me and it is just the beginning. Because of this title my community have taken notice. I receive emails on a daily basis from inspired youths who hope to follow in my footsteps. I have keen parents contacting me on behalf of their children hoping to find a club their kids can join. Local schools in my area have set up ‘Basket Schools of Excellence’ hoping to produce the next GB internationalist.

“It was the biggest honour of my life to represent my country, community, family, and friends at the 2012 Olympic games and this is why the funding must continue.

“It has to continue because even though being an Olympian was great I know that being an Olympian with a medal is even greater. Even if I don’t get this opportunity myself I know that GB are capable of producing such a team. The basketball community is growing at a rapid speed with motivated, young talented players who hope to achieve what I have and more. Cutting the funding will only slow down this process.

“UK sport have to see how far we have come as a basketball nation and realise that the investment they have made in basketball has been a success and they will be rewarded by producing some of the best professionals and more importantly, role models our nation will be proud of. This, in turn will lead to those valued medals everyone aspires to win.

“As happy as I am for being a British Basketball Olympic athlete I would be upset if our squad was the last to achieve this. We talk about ‘legacy’ well legacy needs time and money. I truly believe in our team (family) I just need UK Sport to do the same.”

Thoughts? Will/should British Basketball receive the money?