WINTER | THE COMMENTATOR
Sport just got
healthier, says
Martin Fullard
S
port in the UK is set
for a welcome boost.
Olympic and Paralympic
sports outside the World Class
Programme will be able to bid
for additional investment to help
more talented athletes compete
at Tokyo 2020, Sports Minister
Tracey Crouch announced in
December.
The £3m Aspiration Fund
will allow sports which do not
currently receive full UK Sport
funding to develop plans to help
teams and athletes qualify.
Sports eligible to apply
for the fund include all the
unfunded summer Olympic
and Paralympic sports, the new
sports for the Tokyo Games and
those currently in receipt of
individual athlete medal support
plan funding from UK Sport.
Alongside their qualification
plan, sports seeking funding
will be asked to submit details
of how they will capitalise on
the impact of competing at the
Games and engage and inspire
communities.
The plans will also need to
align with the outcomes set out
in the Government’s Sporting
Future strategy to redefine
what success looks like in sport:
physical well-being, mental well-
being, individual development,
social and community
development and economic
development.
Tracey Crouch, minister for
44
£3m injection for UK Sport
sport and Civil Society, said:
“The Aspiration Fund will give
more sports the chance to
inspire the nation and shine at
Tokyo 2020 and beyond. This
£3m bridges a gap between
grassroots and elite funding
and will help sports grow and
develop future champions.”
“UK Sport investment has
transformed Britain into
an Olympic and Paralympic
powerhouse. But there are
sports, not on UK Sport’s world
class programme, that do a huge
amount of good in communities
that we can help on their path to
the podium.”
Liz Nicholl, CEO of UK Sport
added: “This new Aspiration
Fund is a fantastic opportunity
for some sports to get on track
for the Tokyo Games.
“We have great potential
not only to inspire through
performances on the field
of play but also to have a
genuine social impact in
communities across the UK,”
– Liz Nicholl, CEO of UK Sport
“Many of the sports we are
currently unable to support,
while further away from
reaching the podium, have great
potential not only to inspire
through their performances
on the field of play but also to
have a genuine social impact in
communities across the UK.
“We’d like to thank the
Government for their continued
support for UK Sport’s mission
to inspire the nation through
Olympic and Paralympic
success.”
Grants from the Aspiration
Fund will be capped at £500k
for team sports and £275k for
individual sports. Grants from
the Aspiration Fund will run to
the end of the Tokyo 2020 cycle.
What a great time to make
their events shine.