UK Sport’s Boost for Badminton
BADMINTON England were today celebrating the increase in funding for elite badminton in UK Sport's latest £65m investment in Olympic and Paralympic sport through to the Beijing Games in 2008.
British Badminton has been allocated a 25 per cent increase on present funding, taking total funding up to £6,953,000. That puts badminton in the top 10 of sports benefiting from the increases.
The announcement came less than 24 hours after Britain's Olympic hopefuls added an England European team bronze to their Commonwealth team silver at the European Championships in Holland. There will now be a particularly keen eye on Olympic silver medalists Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms, who will be out to follow up their Commonwealth Games gold by retaining their European title in the mixed doubles.
BADMINTON England's Acting Chief Executive Eric Brown said: "With this confirmation of funding badminton has received a positive endorsement from UK Sport for all the hard work that has gone into the achievements of recent years at Elite level.
“Our next task will be to ensure the money is invested wisely which in the short term means we must focus our attention on working with UK Sport and the home nations to develop an effective GB structure that focuses on the ‘best’ talent and those most likely to achieve in Beijing and beyond.”
Jon Austin, BADMINTON England's Elite Programmes Manager, said: “It is a good investment in our sport over the next three years and will enable us to continue producing medal prospects for the GB badminton team.
“UK Sport and Sport England have already made significant investment in badminton and today’s top-up reflects UK Sport’s confidence in the way the sport and its players are developing.
“It is good news for all players from the Home Nations who are hoping to qualify for Beijing and for those younger emerging prospects who have London 2012 as their target.
“It reflects UK Sport's commitment to badminton and, from our point of view, secures future development."
For further information contact Jon Austin at BADMINTON England on +44 (0) 1908 268400
British Badminton has been allocated a 25 per cent increase on present funding, taking total funding up to £6,953,000. That puts badminton in the top 10 of sports benefiting from the increases.
The announcement came less than 24 hours after Britain's Olympic hopefuls added an England European team bronze to their Commonwealth team silver at the European Championships in Holland. There will now be a particularly keen eye on Olympic silver medalists Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms, who will be out to follow up their Commonwealth Games gold by retaining their European title in the mixed doubles.
BADMINTON England's Acting Chief Executive Eric Brown said: "With this confirmation of funding badminton has received a positive endorsement from UK Sport for all the hard work that has gone into the achievements of recent years at Elite level.
“Our next task will be to ensure the money is invested wisely which in the short term means we must focus our attention on working with UK Sport and the home nations to develop an effective GB structure that focuses on the ‘best’ talent and those most likely to achieve in Beijing and beyond.”
Jon Austin, BADMINTON England's Elite Programmes Manager, said: “It is a good investment in our sport over the next three years and will enable us to continue producing medal prospects for the GB badminton team.
“UK Sport and Sport England have already made significant investment in badminton and today’s top-up reflects UK Sport’s confidence in the way the sport and its players are developing.
“It is good news for all players from the Home Nations who are hoping to qualify for Beijing and for those younger emerging prospects who have London 2012 as their target.
“It reflects UK Sport's commitment to badminton and, from our point of view, secures future development."
For further information contact Jon Austin at BADMINTON England on +44 (0) 1908 268400