British athletics faces an 8% reduction in funding for the Olympic cycle leading to Los Angeles 2028, despite achieving its best performance since 1984 at the Paris Games, where it won 10 medals. This cut, amounting to nearly £1.75 million, has surprised both athletes and experts in the sport, raising concerns about the impact on training and support for coaches.
UK Sport, the body responsible for distributing public and national lottery funds, has denied that this measure reflects an adverse situation for UK Athletics (UKA). However, the decision contrasts with the increase or maintenance of funding for 44 out of 46 sports, including significant increases for cycling and sailing.
AN UNEXPECTED BLOW
UK Athletics has faced criticism for its financial and governance management in recent years, which seems to have influenced UK Sport’s decision. Despite this, UKA CEO Jack Buckner highlighted recent advances, including a strengthened business model and improvements in internal organization: “We are disappointed because we feel our achievements deserved a higher level of investment,” Buckner said.
On the other hand, Sally Munday, CEO of UK Sport, assured that the total investment in athletics, which includes £9.8 million for Para Athletics, will reach £30 million: “We would not be investing in events or discussing bringing the 2029 World Athletics Championships if the sport were at risk,” she pointed out.
FUND DISTRIBUTION
Athletics is not the only sport affected, as canoeing will also experience a cut. However, sports like cycling and sailing have secured elite funding with £30.13 million and £23.95 million, respectively. Additionally, new sports such as flag football, Paralympic climbing, and squash will receive financial support in their debut or return to the LA28 Games.
Although UK Sport has announced a record £330 million in total funding for the Los Angeles cycle, the cut to athletics raises questions about the future of the sport in the UK. The decision comes at a critical moment when recent successes could have served as a platform for further development, but the cut may hinder that momentum.
