BASKETBALL RESTORED ON LOTTERY FUNDING

The British Basketball Federation has been promised £1.35 million in funding en route to the Paris 2024 Olympics.

With the UK government backing off previous plans to trim the cash available to back British teams in the wake of declining National Lottery returns and instead offering an increase, UK Sport has revealed its initial allocations of money for the next Olympic cycle.

And the cash-strapped BBF has seen its revenue pressure eased with a place on the second-tier Progression group of seven funded sports along with the likes of climbing and skateboarding.

And according to UK Sport, “they will play an important role in a wider shift to take a 12-year view of success and kick-start the search for the next generation of Olympic and Paralympic champions.”

Interim chair of the BBF, Toni Minichiello, said: “I am delighted our application to UK Sport has been successful.

“This money allows us to have a longer-term strategy to re-establish the national governing body after a difficult financial period and to build on the recent progress of our men’s and women’s national teams.

“It is a positive outcome and we can target it at what it is intended for, which is helping the senior teams to the next level. It still leaves us with more hard work to do but we are pleased that we can move forward.

“Basketball is a huge part of communities across England, Scotland and Wales and it is vital our elite teams play their part as roles models with support that gives them a better chance of succeeding.”

Dame Katherine Grainger, Chair of UK Sport said: “2020 has been a hugely challenging year for all of us, but I’m proud to have seen Olympic and Paralympic sport and athletes playing their part in communities up and down the country. The postponement of the Tokyo Games has also shown just how much we’ve all missed coming together to cheer on our brilliant athletes.

“Over the past two decades we have established strong foundations on which to build the next iteration of this Great British sporting success story.

“The next chapter of this exciting journey is all about how we win on the global stage. I want our sporting community to be known internationally for its people-first approach and also known for upholding the highest standards of integrity.

“I’m delighted that thanks to the support of the Government and The National Lottery players, we’ve been able to set out clear support for our Olympic and Paralympic sports, to help them get ready for Tokyo and beyond.”

Cycling will receive the largest funding pot at £27,601,684.

The funded Olympic sports are:

World Class Programme – archery, athletics, badminton, boxing, canoeing, cycling, diving, equestrian, hockey, gymnastics, judo, modern pentathlon, rowing, sailing, shooting, swimming, taekwondo, triathlon.

Progression –basketball, climbing, fencing, skateboarding, surfing, table tennis, weightlifting

The funded Paralympic sports are:

World Class Programme – boccia, para-archery, para-athletics, para-badminton, para-canoe, para-cycling, para-equestrian, para-rowing, para-shooting, para-swimming, para-table tennis, para taekwondo, para-triathlon, powerlifting, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair fencing, wheelchair rugby, VI judo
Photo: BBF