UK Sport has confirmed an additional investment of close to £4 million into Olympic and Paralympic sport as preparations intensify for LA 2028.
The funding, agreed through UK Sport’s Annual Review process, will play a critical part in enabling British athletes to deliver their best performances in the USA in two years’ time.
Alongside the significant changes to athlete support being delivered through the UK Sport Institute (UKSI), this investment is essential to ensuring Britain can continue to compete at the top table of Olympic and Paralympic sport.
The uplift will support a range of sports and programmes, strengthening medal potential and enabling sports to retain a competitive edge internationally. This includes enhanced support for athletes with identified medal potential, investment into the next generation of emerging talent, and funding to help sports meet new qualification requirements, manage rising competition costs, and capitalise on new or restructured medal opportunities.
Climbing is among 16 sports benefiting from the uplift, receiving £1,406,000 in additional funding. The investment will support an expanded performance programme, including eight additional athletes, continued programme development, and preparation for new medal events as the sport evolves towards LA 2028.
Dr Laura Needham, Performance Director at the British Mountaineering Council, said:
“This additional investment represents an exciting opportunity for us to further support athletes who are demonstrating significant potential along our GB Climbing performance pathway. It’s incredible to be able to strengthen what we offer from an operational perspective - through enhanced access to camps and competition opportunities - but also through a more holistic approach to athlete development.
“As the sport continues to evolve towards LA 2028, this funding also allows us to expand the wider support services around our athletes, including psychology, nutrition, physiotherapy and medical provision. Bringing these elements together is vital to ensuring the GB Climbing team can maximise their potential and continue to progress on the world stage.”
Canoeing (£163,825) and para canoeing (£112,000) will also receive uplifts to support adaptation to changes in qualification rules.
Keir Worth, Director of Sport at Paddle UK, said:
"We are really grateful to UK Sport for their continued support as we build towards the LA Olympic and Paralympic Games.
"The additional investment will play a critical role in helping athletes access the international competition opportunities they need to qualify, prepare and perform at their best.
"Competing on the world stage gives athletes vital race experience, develops their competitive edge and ensures that we can continue creating the best possible environment for success."
VI Judo will receive £202,500 in additional investment, supporting camp and competition opportunities for athletes and ensuring they gain the international exposure needed at this stage of the cycle.
Kate Howey, Performance Director, British Judo, said:
“This uplift in funding from UK Sport is a significant boost for our visually impaired judo programme and the athletes within it. It means more time on the mat at the right level, more international competitions, more high-quality camps, and more opportunities for athletes like Evie Gormley to test themselves against the best in the world.
“That exposure is critical. It accelerates development, builds belief, and ultimately gives us a stronger platform to deliver medals on the biggest stages.”
Meanwhile, lacrosse, which will make its Olympic debut at LA 2028, will receive a £202,000 uplift as it prepares for inclusion on the programme. Table tennis will receive an uplift of £206,000 to support additional athlete places, while surfing and wheelchair fencing are among several other sports also benefiting from investment.
Kate Baker, Director of Performance at UK Sport, said:
“This uplift comes at a crucial point in the LA 2028 cycle and is critical to our collective efforts to help British athletes perform at their best when it matters most.
“We are incredibly excited about the potential of our athletes, and it is vital we continue to invest in that talent to help realise it in LA. Combined with the changes we are delivering to performance support services through UKSI, this will play an important role in putting British athletes on the podium in just over two years’ time.
“By investing early, whether backing emerging medal opportunities, responding to changes in competition structures or preparing for new Olympic sports, we are strengthening our competitive edge on the world stage.”