UK Sport publishes 2012 funding row document

UK Sport has published a funding submission at the centre of a political storm over financial commitments to ensure medal success at the London 2012 Olympics.

Shadow sports minister Hugh Robertson was sent a confidential funding proposal by a DCMS civil servant in error, which outlined a number of different funding scenarios ahead of the 2012 Games.

The document was produced by UK Sport for submission to the Treasury to clarify how investment could give British athletes the best chance of success.

Following Robertson's claims that the government and UK Sport had misled the House of Commons over Britain’s medal targets for the 2012 Olympic Games, the proposal has been made public.

The report outlines a scalable investment model and proposes five funding options. It clarifies that UK Sport's ultimate goal is to finish fourth in the 2012 Olympic medal table and retain second place in the Paralympics, while maintaining investment programmes in all Olympic sports.

The report says that to achieve fourth place, 120 medallists would be required to win at least 60 medals, including 17 golds. The Paralympic target would be 55 gold medals from 235 athletes.

Funding the 'ultimate approach' would cost an additional £49.5m a year. Other proposals put forward include a 'no compromise' option, which would not invest in non-medal prospect sports (volleyball, handball, basketball, waterpolo, table tennis) which would cost £35.6m a year.

A 'stand still on medals, increase participation' option is given a £28.8m price tag.