Medals & More: A Conversation with Dame Katherine Grainger - Episode 4
Published 22 April 2020
Welcome to the fourth episode of Medals & More, the podcast taking you behind the scenes of British Olympic and Paralympic sport.
This week sees a very special episode as three of the most influential people in British sport come together to discuss the financial impact of the Tokyo 2020 postponement, the new challenges they face over the next year and also the huge opportunity now presented to unite a nation and the world in 2021.
Listen below for a fascinating insight into the world of high-performance sport as host Dame Katherine Grainger is joined remotely by UK Sport CEO Sally Munday, British Olympic Association CEO Andy Anson and CEO of the British Paralympic Association, Mike Sharrock.
In a wide-ranging discussion, Katherine explores the huge impact which the postponement has had with her guests and asks the questions no doubt many fans of Olympic and Paralympic sport have also been wondering.
While recognising the financial difficulties caused by the pandemic, UK Sport’s Sally Munday was keen to stress the positive impact Olympic and Paralympic sport undoubtedly has on the British public.
“We totally recognise that where we are right now is unprecedented and I’ve been asked the question around whether the government will continue to invest in medals when there’s the NHS to invest in, but I don’t think we see our role, and government’s investment, as just being about medals.
“It’s about what those journeys and moments that lead to those medals create for the British public. It creates happiness, it creates enjoyment, it creates a sense of pride that actually not many other things can give. There’s no question in my mind that when the Olympics and Paralympics take place next summer it is going to be the most phenomenal party of countries around the world coming together.
“It’s going to be such a celebration of sport, but also a celebration of humanity and because we know how important this is to the British public, I do feel confident that the government will continue to support and invest in us”
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Listen to our four episodes below or download here.