British Surfing Crowdfunding To Cover Travel Costs

The British surfing team set up a crowdfunding page because it "cannot afford to travel" to a 2020 Olympic qualifying event in Japan next week, according to Alistair Magowan of the BBC. Surfing makes its Olympic debut in Tokyo but "without a guarantee of medals the team cannot get UK Sport funding." British Surfing said, "We have selected an amazing team but without funding it looks unlikely we can get to Japan which will impact Olympic ranking." The team, which is made up of Jay Quinn, Reubyn Ash, Luke Dillon, Peony Knight, Ellie Turner and Lucy Campbell, needs to raise £10,000 ($12,920) to cover flights and a further £10,000 for supporting costs and coaches. British Surfing Dir Nick Hounsfield said, "It's sad that a brand new Olympic sport can't get funding at all" (BBC, 9/7).