Cash Boost For Olympic Pros In Spending Review

Olympic athletes will benefit from an increase in funding ahead of the 2016 and 2020 Games after the Chancellor announced a 29% increase in funding for UK Sport as part of the Spending Review.

There had been fears of cuts to elite and grassroots sport from the review – but while the Department of Culture, Media and Sport will see a 5% cut, sport will benefit from increases.

Addressing the House of Commons, Mr Osborne said the increase will allow athletes to "go for gold" in Rio.

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UK Sport spends about £120m a year on supporting elite athletes, with about £45m coming from the Treasury and the balance from the National Lottery.

The precise figures are yet to be agreed, but the increased support follows lobbying from UK Sport, which argued that funding has a direct impact on the amount of medals the team is likely to win.

Sport England, which funds participation, will face an overall 5% cut, but that will be offset by a £2.6m cash increase.

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The UK Anti-Doping Agency is also to receive a 7% cash increase of £400,000.

Tracey Crouch, the sports minister, said: "This settlement recognises the wider value of sport in society and how it plays an important role in boosting the economy.

"The increase in funding will support our elite athletes in the run up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, grow the grassroots to get more people involved in sport, and promote clean sport in the UK and beyond."