UK Sport has today made public the investment principles by which funding will be allocated to Olympic and Paralympic sports for the Rio cycle (2013-17).
Having experienced the triumphant highs of London 2012, where GB achieved 65 Olympic medals and 120 Paralympic medals to comfortably surpass the minimum UK Sport performance targets, UK Sport will be aiming to capitalise on the lessons learned from the Home Games and sustain success through to the next Games in four years’ time.
‘Project Rio’, UK Sport’s strategic approach to making investment decisions for the Rio cycle, was in motion long before the London 2012 Games, with Olympic and Paralympic sports submitting their draft business cases for investment in February 2012. However, the lead up to Christmas will mark one of the busiest periods for UK Sport, with final business cases being presented for consideration during October and November. The UK Sport Board will then make the final investment decisions for the Rio cycle in December 2012.
UK Sport Chief Executive Liz Nicholl said: “This is a significant and extremely busy time for UK Sport and the entire high performance system, as we prepare to make the important investment decisions that will maintain momentum, build on the lessons learned from London 2012, and capitalise on the fantastic success we enjoyed.
“With the backing of the Government and the National Lottery guaranteed for the next cycle, we are in a position to strategically invest the resources available to us in those sports and athletes we feel have the best chance of succeeding on the Olympic and Paralympic stage.
“Our vision for the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2016 is for the UK to be at least as competitive as we are now, but with a stronger, more sustainable high performance sport system.”
UK Sport’s Rio Investment Principles can be viewed here