'Rags to riches', says UK Athletics

UK Athletics says athletics in the UK is now a 'rags to riches' story with a substantial injection of lottery funding. More than 300 athletes are set to receive Sports Lottery funding to boost the pursuit of medals at this summer's IAAF World Championships, European Under 23 and Under 20 Championships, and the European Cup Super League. Director, Max Jones, says he is looking ahead to a summer in which the prime target will be to build on the two Golds won at the 2000 Olympics: Lottery Funding became the lifeblood of the sport and we owe a debt of gratitude to UK Sport and the Lottery Fund for the period 1997 to 2000 The World Class Performance Programme (WCPP) funded by UK Sport, will support the 86 top rated athletes. The full package of support can total as much as £20,000 to an elite athlete who is not means tested out of the Athlete Personal Award support. Athletes, once accepted onto the Lottery funding programme, are funded for a minimum of 12 months. A review takes place at the end of that period. For further details visit www.ukathletics.org