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UK Athletics saw budget cuts for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, an issue that was not well received by the federation leadership.
UK Sport have denied athletics is on the ‘naughty step’ despite slashing the sport’s funding for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Team GB won 10 medals in track and field at Paris 2024, their best performance at a Games in 40 years. However, athletics is one of just two sports along with canoeing to have had their Government and Lottery money cut in the run-up to LA 2028, with their budget of £22.18m for Paris 2024 down by almost eight per cent to £20.45m.
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21:00 - 10.12.2024
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UK Athletics chief executive Jack Buckner said he was disappointed at the decision and that his organisation deserved a higher level of investment according to the Daily Mail. It is understood that Buckner has been at loggerheads with UK Sport about him effectively doubling up as a performance director following the sacking of Stephen Maguire in October 2023.
However, UK Sport insist the funding cut for athletics is not a punishment. "We believe the £30m we are going to be investing in their Olympic and Paralympic programs is the right amount of money to enable them to achieve their ambitions," said UK Sport chief executive Sally Munday.
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16:32 - 16.12.2024
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"I am responsible for public money and if they were on the naughty step, we wouldn't be giving them £30m. We are backing this sport and we are giving them the money that we believe will enable them to be successful," Munday added.
In anticipation of their allocation from UK Sport going down, cash-strapped UKA - who recorded a £1.2m loss in the last financial year – informed coaches they would be getting a pay cut.
Those who train global gold medalists like Keely Hodgkinson’s coach Trevor Painter will now receive just £15,000 a year, down from £40,000, while those who look after silver or bronze medalists will earn just £7,500.
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