Gordon Brown’s Budget announcement of additional funding for high performance sport in the run up to London 2012 has received an enthusiastic response from the sporting community:
"We have been given the go-ahead to have a full team in every event where we can deliver a credible performance. It is very good news for sport and we now know that we can invest the full amount needed over the next few years to lay the foundations for 2012 as we build up to the Beijing Games for 2008." Sue Campbell, Chair, UK Sport
"Gordon Brown's announcement creates exactly the right environment for our young sportsmen and women to prosper in Beijing in 2008 and at our own Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012. This funding will allow UK Sport and our governing bodies to set in motion the most ambitious programme we've ever seen in this country for spotting talent and turning it into medal success on the world stage.
"We have all been thrilled by the achievements of competitors from the UK in Melbourne and with this new funding we can prepare for an even brighter future with many more gold medals to celebrate." Tessa Jowell, Olympics Minister and Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
"Olympic and Paralympic Performance Directors have been anxiously waiting for an announcement of additional funding. We are delighted that the Government has acknowledged the importance of British success at a home Games by supporting the UK Sport funding submission by announcing this additional money. Olympic and Paralympic sports now have a clear overall target, allowing us to build our most successful team ever. Additionally and importantly sports not currently on the World Class Pathway will also benefit from development opportunities in order to be competitive in London 2012. We now really need to get moving as quickly as possible if we are to achieve these goals." John Derbyshire, RYA Performance Director
"Today’s news is a great leap forward for British Olympic and Paralympic sport. UK Sport, along with its partner organisations, can now really focus on ensuring that Britain is able to enter its largest and most competitive team ever in London 2012. As an athlete, I fully understand the investment that is required in order to reach the highest level and this additional funding will provide exciting opportunities for sports across the board. Indeed this is a chance for London, and the whole of the UK in general, to benefit on a number of levels – sporting and otherwise. The Games will be a source of great inspiration to many." Olympic medallist Katherine Grainger
"News that the Government has come up with funding for the 2012 Olympics is fantastic. It had to happen for success in 2012 and this is the beginning. We can be uncompromising in terms of training camps and preparations with the latest technology." Olympic medallist Georgina Harland
"National governing bodies can now seek to employ the world’s best coaches and put together programmes that will create a system that will deliver success." Simon Clegg, Chief Executive of the British Olympic Association