UK Sport’s 14th annual World Class Performance Conference got underway in London this evening, and as the high performance community came together to reflect on the successes of 2014 and focus on their learning and development for the future, UK Sport Chairman Rod Carr encouraged delegates to ‘make their voice heard’, as UK Sport consults on its future investment strategy.
UK Sport’s annual conference brings together coaches, practitioners and leaders from the British high performance sports community to meet, debate and share best practice across key themes influencing athletes’ performances.
UK Sport Chairman Rod Carr said: "This conference is always a cherished opportunity for us at UK Sport, when we can have our whole sporting family in the same room to share, learn and celebrate, thanks to our partners Sportscover, who make this event possible, and of course The National Lottery, who none of us would be here without.
"It’s important to we take time to celebrate our achievements and what a great year to do just that; a record breaking Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Sochi, and we are delighted to have the British Olympic Association and British Paralympic Association here with us, home nation success at Glasgow 2014, and our summer sports on the road to Rio continue to impress.
"The theme of our conference this year is Focus; on preparing for the future - for the winter sports following Sochi you will be in a period of reflection and recalibration, for the summer sports with just over 20 months to Rio you will no doubt have your head down, preparing your athletes to get them to the Games in the best shape you can.
"Take this opportunity over the next couple of days to focus on you, and how you can better prepare yourself, your team and your athletes for the challenges ahead."
Meanwhile Carr was keen to encourage delegates to contribute to UK Sport’s on-going consultation process on its future investment strategy.
Carr said: "Don’t be complacent, your views matter to us so please take some time over the next few days to respond to the consultation and make your voice heard!"
The consultation, facilitated by independent market and opinion research consultancy ComRes, is open until 10 December 2014 and can be found at www.uksport.gov.uk/consultation