UK Sport Invests Record £330 Million for 2028 LA Games
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Loading... - Bianca Palumbo
- 22 Jan 2025
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UK Sport has announced a record investment of £330 million aimed at preparing Team GB for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. This unprecedented funding will support around 50 sports, including 18 World Class Programme sports such as athletics, rowing, and badminton, as well as nine development sports like skateboarding and surfing. Additionally, 18 World Class Programme Paralympic sports, including Para swimming, powerlifting, and archery, will benefit from this financial commitment, alongside one development Paralympic sport, goalball.
New Sports and Funding Adjustments
The investment also marks a significant moment for five new Olympic sports making their debut at the 2028 Games, including baseball, flag football, lacrosse, Para climbing, and squash, which will collectively receive £3 million in funding. However, not all sports are seeing increases; canoeing, for instance, will face a funding reduction of over £500,000.
Sally Munday, CEO of UK Sport, emphasized that this investment should not be interpreted as a “reward” or “punishment” based on performances at the upcoming Paris Games. Instead, the funding decisions were made based on each sport's potential for success. Munday stated, “The decision that we’ve made against all the sports is we’ve looked at their potential.”
Athletics Funding and Reactions
UK Athletics is set to receive more than £30 million for its Olympic and Paralympic programmes. Munday expressed confidence that this funding would position UK Athletics well to support its athletes leading up to the LA Games. However, UK Athletics CEO Jack Buckner voiced disappointment over a £1.725 million funding cut, arguing that the 10 medals achieved at both the 2023 World Championships and the recent Olympics warranted greater investment.
Aiming for Top Five
UK Sport is determined to solidify the UK’s status as one of the most successful Olympic and Paralympic nations globally. Following a successful outing at the Paris Olympics, where Team GB secured 65 medals and 124 at the Paralympics, the organization is setting its sights higher. Munday stated that the goal is to be “consistently top five” in the medal tables for both the 2028 Los Angeles and 2032 Brisbane Games.
This funding announcement is part of a broader strategy to empower sports to adopt an ambitious, proactive, and innovative approach, ensuring success during this Olympic cycle and beyond. It aims to underpin Team GB and ParalympicsGB’s ambitions of achieving and maintaining a top five position in future medal tables.
Support for Financial Challenges
The funding package also includes measures to assist sports and athletes in navigating the current financial climate, with additional support for Paralympic sports to address inflationary pressures and their unique needs. Dr. Kate Baker, UK Sport’s Director of Performance and People, highlighted the importance of building on Team GB and ParalympicsGB’s success in Paris, calling the investment for the LA cycle “our greatest investment to date.” She expressed enthusiasm about welcoming new sports to the Olympic roster and emphasized the collaborative approach with Home Nations partners to strengthen pathways from grassroots to the podium.
This record investment by UK Sport marks a bold step forward for British athletics, reflecting a deep commitment to empowering sports and athletes to achieve success on the global stage. As the nation gears up for the 2028 Olympic Games, this funding will play a crucial role in inspiring athletes and fans alike, setting the stage for a thrilling and competitive future in UK sports. With the drama and spectacle of the LA Games on the horizon, the excitement is palpable as athletes prepare to showcase their talents on the world stage.
