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UK Sport to receive 29 per cent funding increase in Autumn Statement shock in … – Daily Mail

The Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Autumn Statement contained an unexpected boost for UK Sport
Move was unexpected – UK Sport had been expecting budget cuts
British Olympic athletes will benefit from more money ahead of Rio 2016
Paralympians will also benefit for Rio and Tokyo Games in 2020
See more of the latest news updates on the 2015 Autumn Statement

Chris Cutmore for MailOnline

and
Martyn Ziegler, Press Association

Published:
09:07 EST, 25 November 2015

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Updated:
11:54 EST, 25 November 2015

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UK Sport has been handed a shock 29 per cent increase in funding, handing a boost to British athletes preparing for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo four years later.

George Osborne made the surprise announcement during his Autumn Statement in the House of Commons, declaring: ‘We’re going for gold in Rio and Tokyo.’

But the funding increase for elite British athletes masked a 20 per cent cut for the administration budget at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport – plus an overall five per cent budget cut.

Athletes preparing for Rio 2016, such as Jessica Ennis-Hill, will receive a boost to their funding

Paralympic hopefuls such as David Weir will also benefit in the run-up to Rio and also the Tokyo Games

George Osborne making his Autumn Statement to the House of Commons on Wednesday

Fears that grass roots sport could suffer were allayed after it was announced they would receive a ‘flat cash settlement’, meaning funding will remain broadly the same. The same will apply to UK Anti-Doping.

But cuts to local authority budgets could mean community sport is hit by lack of spending on local leisure facilities.

UK Sport, which distributes public money to elite sport, had been expecting a funding cut. But Britain’s top Olympic and Paralympic athletes will have an increase in funding over the next five years – the term of this Parliament.

The Exchequer provides around a third of UK Sport’s finding, with the rest coming from National Lottery. Its annual income rise from £135milion to around £148m leading up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

UK Sport’s chairman Rod Carr had said he was ‘concerned’ at the expected huge cuts facing his organisation.

There is a well-established link between high amounts of funding and success in winning medals at the Olympic Games.

The budgetary changes are due to affect preparation for future editions of the Games after Rio in particular.

Speaking before the Autumn Statement, Carr said UK Sport had pointed out the value of winning medals to the government.

‘We believe we provide heroes and heroines that enhance the mood of the nation,’ he said.

‘Who can forget that magic Saturday in the middle of the London Games when we won those medals on the track?’

Mo Farah was one of the heroes of London 2012, winning gold in the 5,000metres and 10,000m

Long jumper Greg Rutherford was also a gold medal winner on ‘Super Saturday’ for Britain in 2012

The world of sport is preparing for next summer’s Games in Rio de Janeiro

AUTUMN STATEMENT: HOW IT AFFECTS BRITISH SPORT

29 per cent increase for Uk Sport funding

5 per cent cut for Department of Culture, Media and Sport

20 per cent cut for the same department’s administrative spending

No change in UK Anti-Doping funding

No change in grass roots sport funding

Plus:

Government backed bids for cycling road championships and 2021 rugby league World Cup

Income-tax exemption for non-UK athletes ends in 2016 (except during World Athletics Championships)

UK Sport have an ‘aspirational’ goal of British athletes winning even more medals than they did at the London Games. That means winning 66 Olympic medals and 121 at the Paralympcs, although UK Sport is to publish its realistic expectations next summer before the Games.

Osborne’s spending review states: ‘The Government is increasing its funding for elite sport to build on the success of Olympic and Paralympic games at London 2012 and support Team GB’s ambition for success in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.’

The Government will also support bids to host two other major sports events, including a surprise announcement that Manchester will be in the running to host rugby league’s World Cup in 2021.

The review adds: ‘Following the success of hosting London 2012 and the rugby union World Cup the government will support the ambition to host the cycling road world championships and 2021 rugby league World Cup in the Northern Powerhouse.’

The government is also to put an end to the exemption on income tax enjoyed by non-UK athletes competing in events in Britain. This will come into force after the London Anniversary games next year but does not, however, cover the World Athletics Championships in London in 2017.