British Swimming statement on funding for Water Polo
30th January 2009British Swimming Chief Executive David Sparkes has responded to today’s UK Sport announcement on funding that will see the Olympic sport of Water Polo receive £1,450,895 from 2009 until 2013.
Water Polo received £3,147,000 from UK Sport for the Beijing Olympiad. Today’s announcement sees more than a 50% cut in the sport’s funding.
“While we are disappointed with the final level of water polo funding to prepare both the men's and women's team for London 2012, we recognise this is a consequence of the current £50million shortfall in funding for the preparation of athletes for this once in a life time opportunity,” said Sparkes.
“We are clearly concerned for the athletes who have already made massive commitments to the water polo programme and British Swimming will be working with everyone to bridge the gap in funding.
“Our plan going forward remains to try and get both teams to the London 2012 Olympics but we’re in a position now where focus will have to be given to the women’s team who have made excellent progress.
“We are facing some very tough decisions and some changes will have to be made but we will be as committed as the athletes and coaches have been to date in doing what we can to find help to fund the programme.
“Our aim now is to work closely with the parents and the leadership of British water polo on a range of innovative solutions to provide the additional funding we need. Anyone who has any ideas or wants to help should step up now.”
Water polo was one of eight Olympic and four Paralympic sports that had to wait until today for a funding allocation to be confirmed following an initial sports investment announcement in December.
Throughout this period, British Swimming worked closely with UK Sport to explore different options, while also trying to identify further available funding to ensure both a men’s and a women’s team contest the 2012 Olympics and be competitive.