More cash for curling despite failure in Olympics
Curling has received a surprise increase in the funding it receives from UK Sport despite its failure to win a medal at this year’s Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.
The agency revealed it will invest £23.8 million in winter sports leading into the 2022 Games in Beijing – a cut of 25 per cent – with the Stirling-based British Curling programme to receive £6.35m.
Skeleton, which delivered a gold and two bronzes in Korea, will get £7.2m and ski and snowboard £6.75m with its para offshoot landing £3.5m.
Wheelchair curling, bobsleigh, figure skating and short track speed skating have had their backing axed, although a special cash deal will be done for Scots world champion Elise Christie despite her disastrous Olympic showing in which crashes and falls led to disappointment in the 500m, 1000m and 1500m races.
“While UK Sport would like to be able to invest in every Olympic and Paralympic sport, our role is to prioritise within agreed resources in order to protect and enhance the medal potential within the system,” said UK Sport CEO Liz Nicholl. “We believe these strategic investments will deliver medal winning success to inspire the nation once again in Beijing in 2022.
“We fully understand the huge significance of our decisions and that they will impact on the hopes and dreams of the athletes, coaches and support staff that we are unable to invest in at this time.”
A public consultation is presently under way which might see UK Sport asked to move away from chasing medals to backing a wider range of sports in the future.