"Lack of Funding"

[DIDSCO]

Reality check.

Skiing is an olympic sport with a massive participation rate around the world, with significant TV coverage and media attention.

Orienteering is not an olympic sport, with a tiny participation rate around the world, with no real TV coverage and media attention. It's a great sport, but not realistically one that the general public will be keen to fund at a much higher level.

[Adrian]

Who's Chemmy? Sounds like the nickname of a science teacher.

And did Didsco need to bring the discussion down to the level of The Sun? Wouldn't it be better to have gold medalists flying the flag for us than "good looking girls with personality"?

[epocian]

becks said

So she needs more than our entire elite programme (Juniors and Seniors) because she has to buy a few pairs of skis?

If she's any good I would have thought the ski manufacturers would be giving her some sponsorship - when they've finished, all the skiers can't wait to get their skis off and flash the manufacturers name to the TV cameras!

[Mrs H]

Ski-ing's NGB has gone into administration as I understand it - I wonder where that leaves funding for the future of ski-ing and snowboarding?

[eddie]

Mrs H - the BOA have taken it on for the time being. In additon to this the Home Nation Snowsport NGBs are still in existance.

[DIDSCO]

Adrian > A good looking girl with a personality and a gold medal would be even better bring on the FHM photo shoot

[madmike]

Can anyone tell me what funding our World Class Programme got from UK Sport the yeare our boys won the relay gold? I just saw Chemmy £300,000 funding a year plus advertising revenue Alcott complain about a "lack of funding" leaving her poorly prepared for the Olympics, and I'm feeling an e mail to the BBC coming on...

more on Becks.favourite skier - if this happens to olympic sports what chance do we have?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olliewilliam ... sers.shtml

[Big Jon]

We have no chance at all in getting funding at UK sport level - concentrate on local applications for lottery, etc funding for everything possible. UK Sport seems to have a scorched earth policy - no medals no money, every sport will have a fallow period between periods of success, if UK Sport take its policy to the logical conclusion, eventually no sport will have any funding (stating they can apply again if they have success is a bit harsh as without funding it is unlikely any will improve their position). However I am sure that the big sports (swimming, athletics etc) will always get funding as they have a big voice at national level.

[Scott]

There's some interesting stuff in the October International Committee minutes. It's encouraging to read someone within BOF recognising that the

view of the general orienteering community towards the International Programme
[is] a key factor in future support.

[Becks]

Speaking of favourite people, on my investigation of the new BOF website, I see my favourite person is still in the GB performance squad. Isn't this getting a bit silly now?

Good to see a huge amount of new male talent in there too. I'm very glad our rising stars aren't losing out as a result.

[DIDSCO]

I don't know why your complaining again Becks, the squad of runners in that group is much bigger now which I think is really positive, the squad was always miles better when there were loads of runners pushing each other in training/training camps-weekends. Who's missing out due to your "favourite persons" inclusion?

[Becks]

I just don't think we should be wasting any money anywhere. But I am very glad to see such a big squad, and excited by the amount of new talent in there.

[mharky]

Having someone in the squad basically costs no money, only the inaugural is open to all, all the camps and races are for selected athletes. Which also means that not being in the squad won't affect anyones chances for camps or races as they will be selected based on performance in selection races.

Being one of the few people who it actually affects, I can honestly say that it doesn't actually affect me.