Athletics the biggest loser in funding cut of nearly £1.75m for LA 2028 Olympics UK Sport has denied putting UK Athletics on the “naughty step” after slashing its funding for the Los Angeles Olympic cycle by nearly £1.75m.
However UK Sport’s chief executive, Sally Munday, dismissed suggestions that UKA had been targeted, and stressed it would still be getting £30m of public money once the £9.8m of money for Para Athletics was factored in.
To rub further salt in UKA’s wounds, 44 of 46 Olympic and Paralympic sports funded by UK Sport received either more or the same money to help them prepare for the LA Games, with cycling (£30.13m) and sailing (£23.95m) faring best.
UKA has struggled with financial and governance issues in previous years, while UK Sport is also understood to have questioned whether UKA’s chief executive, Jack Buckner, is too involved on the performance side.
However athletics insiders were still stunned to see its share of lottery and exchequer money cut from £22.18m between 2020-2024 to £20.45m for 2025-2029 – a fall of 8% – with fears that it will impact on training camps and funding for coaches.
