Reaction from the winners and losers in UK Sport Olympic funding plans

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Posted: Wednesday 3rd December 2008 | 22:16

CHRISTMAS came early for some, while the New Year promises to bring little cheer for others.

UK Sport's Olympic funding programme has left some administrators looking to 2012 with excitement, while others are hastily redrawing plans.

BRITISH OLYMPIC ASSOCIATION - ANDY HUNT, CHIEF EXECUTIVE

"It is disappointing that, despite extensive lobbying we find ourselves in the position now, just three months after the most successful Olympic Games for Great Britain in 100 years, where the Government has failed to honour their funding promise to all our Olympic sports."

BRITISH PARALYMPIC ASSOCIATION - PHIL LANE, CHIEF EXECUTIVE

"We had aspirations of sending a full team to the Games so that the home crowd had something to cheer at every venue. This would have been important for ticket sales but would also create a legacy of development from the Games.

"However, that may not happen now."

ATHLETICS - NIELS DE VOS, UK ATHLETICS CHIEF EXECUTIVE

£25.11 MILLION (DOWN 1.1%)

"This is very good news for the sport and is a vote of confidence in UK Athletics. We have made some critical alterations within performance which will enable us to continue our upward trajectory led by new head coach Charles van Commenee.

"The sum announced represents the level of funding we need to deliver the UK Athletics World Class Performance Programme.

HOCKEY - DAVID FAUKNER, GREAT BRITAIN PERFORMANCE DIRECTOR

£14.13 MILLION (UP 43%)

"The 25% increase really matches the strategy and the plan we put forward to UK Sport and fits in with our mission towards 2012.

"Hockey's a very high participation sport and the impact on grass-roots if we weren't funded would have been hugely disappointing given the work we're doing on the ground.

"We've gone from 11th-12th in the world to fifth-sixth in three years. Now hockey has a realistic chance of hitting the podium."

TRIATHLON - HEATHER WILLIAMS, BRITISH TRIATHLON PERFORMANCE DIRECTOR

£5.39 MILLION (UP 5.5%)

"As a sport that has continued to achieve on the world stage, we are pleased with UK Sport's decision.

"The British Triathlon development programme has had great success in nurturing and bringing through talented young athletes and we are on track for medal-winning performances in 2012."

MODERN PENTATHLON - PETER HART, PENTATHLON GB CHIEF EXECUTIVE

£6.41 MILLION (UP 9.9%)

"We're obviously delighted. We can now continue our planning for London 2012 and our aim of contributing to Team GB's goal of aspiring to finish in fourth place in the medal table.

"UK Sport has shown faith in our pentathlon programme for more than 10 years, in which time our women pentathletes have won 66% of the Olympic medals available to them."

SHOOTING - JOHN LEIGHTON-DYSON, BRITISH SHOOTING PERFORMANCE DIRECTOR

NO DECISION ON 2012 FUNDING - BEIJING BUDGET £5.06 MILLION

"This comes as terrible news for the future of shooting in this country. I'm sure this will see the end of some foreign coaches and will see athletes returning to their day jobs. The worst part is that we've been left in limbo - we don't know how big the cuts are going to be so we can't start to prepare yet.

VOLLEYBALL - RICHARD CALLICOTT, VOLLEYBALL ENGLAND PRESIDENT

NO DECISION ON 2012 FUNDING - BEIJING BUDGET £4.11 MILLION

"We don't understand why somebody has decided that volleyball, which has ticked all the boxes that UK Sport has set, cannot compete alongside the sports that have been listed as winners.

"We believe that we are potential medallists and we don't understand [why] some sports that have done no better than we have... have received funding. We think there's a strange parallel there."

HANDBALL - CHRIS SPICE, BRITISH HANDBALL PERFORMANCE DIRECTOR

NO DECISION ON 2012 FUNDING - BEIJING BUDGET £2.9 MILLION

"Obviously we're very disappointed not to have had funding confirmed, as the programme has made significant progress in the last two years and the commitment shown by the athletes and coaches has been exceptional.

"We now need to work hard to identify other sources of income to ensure our future."

WATER POLO - DAVID SPARKES, BRITISH SWIMMING CHIEF EXECUTIVE

NO DECISION ON 2012 FUNDING - BEIJING BUDGET £3.15 MILLION

"We're hopeful we will acquire some funding and will work with what we receive to ensure British players have the best possible opportunity of enjoying the Olympic experience in London.

"Without significant funding we cannot seriously consider water polo in terms of medal potential. It's simply too difficult a task but we await with interest an announcement in January."