UK Sport Launches Review Of Controversial Funding System

A review of the U.K. funding system for Olympic and Paralympics sports was launched on Tuesday, "with critics insisting that the policy of targeting only medals is flawed," according to Martyn Ziegler of the LONDON TIMES. UK Sport opened a public consultation of the funding system that "provoked controversy" with some low-participation sports receiving millions of pounds each year, while others, such as basketball and badminton, were cut off because they are deemed "unlikely to win medals at Tokyo 2020." The review will not affect Tokyo but "will come into force for Paris 2024." UK Sport Chair Katherine Grainger said that the success of the funding system since it was launched in '06 had been "nothing short of remarkable" but that a review was needed (LONDON TIMES, 6/5).