Home Nations Unite to Resource GB National Teams

Basketball England, basketballscotland and Basketball Wales, along with the British Basketball Federation (BBF) and the British Basketball League (BBL) have combined to help resource and sustain the GB teams in 2018.

An agreement has been reached on the approach required to ensure Senior and Junior teams can be fielded in international competition with BE supporting with £300,000 with Basketball Wales providing £5,000 with basketballScotland yet to have their funding figure confirmed.

The BBF do not receive recognition from UK Sport to support performance basketball due to the sport not meeting the performance criteria, meaning that all parties needed to find alternative ways of resourcing the eight Great Britain teams for the coming year.

Lisa Wainwright, CEO British Basketball said: “Given where we are with UK Sport funding and the still recent formation of British Basketball, it has been a momentous week for the sport and all boards/partners to ensure athletes can continue to represent Great Britain.

“There are have been many hours spent on finding a solution. I want to thank Sport England for their continued support and look forward to seeing the teams compete later in the year.”

Stewart Kellett, CEO Basketball England added: “Basketball England is delighted to be part of finding a resource solution with the Home Nations and the BBF. We have gone through many weeks of collaboration to identify what is possible to ensure Great Britain teams remain in competition. The challenge internally has been to find sufficient funds to contribute to a solution whilst still serving the rest of the domestic game and our membership.

“Whilst the recent spotlight has been on helping performance basketball, we are acutely aware that community basketball, coaches, officials, clubs and volunteers still needs support at grass roots level. We would like to thank Sport England for their flexibility and support in this process and we look forward to another successful year of national team basketball.”

The BBF have strict competition obligations with FIBA and all three Home Nation CEOs have been working together with the BBF for several months to agree an affordable approach to ensure these obligations were met with the alleged threat of heavy fines, reported by MVP.

Sport England, as the principal funder of Basketball England and the talent pathway have also played a major role in helping the parties involved.

The agreed solution is based on the following contributions and collaboration, per release:

– Basketball England have agreed to support the Great Britain senior teams with £150,000 of their talent grant in 2018, plus a further investment of up to £150,000 from their talent grant to ensure under 16, 18 and 20 men and women’s age group teams compete this summer. This temporary reallocation of funds is subject to final approval with Sport England.

– Basketball England will also continue to manage all visa applications for migrant players and staff, liaising with the Home Office to maintain best practice, and provide eligibility checks with other federations across the globe. Oversight in Safeguarding, anti-doping, research and insight will also continue as a shared service where required.

– basketballscotland are not currently in a position to contribute until their funding figure for the next cycle is confirmed.

– Basketball Wales is not in receipt of public funding support and has offered a £5,000 contribution from its accumulated funds, to assist the BBF through to 31 March 2018. This is a significant amount for a relatively small volunteer membership organisation.

– The BBL have agreed to continue their support of the BBF, including assistance with their communications and marketing as well as event sales and management.

– The Home Nations, BBF and the BBL are set to work closely together over the coming weeks to agree plans to make the best use of resources within Basketball to ensure the future sustainability of all teams in international competition. A recent meeting took place with the Sports Minister and the All Parliamentary Party Group for Basketball, and analysis was well received. A compelling case for the sport to get more support was put forward, helping to build on the assistance and resources current provided from Sport England and Sport Scotland. Those in attendance were encouraged by the positive response at the meeting and all parties will be working more closely with Government and MPs to help generate more support for basketball going forward.

– All involved in this current agreement are delighted to announce that an approach to a solution has been found for 2018. Basketball cannot and will not disappear from the international stage and young people can continue to aspire to play for Great Britain.

– All parties will continue to utilise their considerable expertise collectively to help deliver the national team programmes. This will make the delivery of those programmes more affordable whilst still giving players and staff the best experience possible. The parties involved will be doing the best they can with what they have at their disposal.