OLYMPIC FUNDING

[Gross]

An interesting article on who 'won & lost' against UK Sport targets at the Olympics on the BBC:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19226042

Seems like the future of their funding will partly depending on how the sports performed against their targets.

Obviously orienteering isn't included in the list but how do GBR compare in performance v targets?? I haven't seen a GBR target published for a few years but I guess in today's world of 'transparancy' and 'delivery' there must be some somewhere...

On a wider point... what hope of Government funding now that funds seem to have been committed to the Rio games... put alongside the need / want for cuts here, there & everywhere I'd guess BOF will be chuffed to get enough to cover the application postage

Also interesting that BOF seems really prepared for the anticipated rush of keen, new sports people wanting to take part in all sorts of sports... the headline on the website introduces all these new comers to a list of courses for club & event officials

[denbydale]

There's a comparison chart in today's Telegraph (Sports section)
28 categories - 9 of which failed to achieve their target

[Scott]

what hope of Government funding now that funds seem to have been committed to the Rio games

British Orienteering are hopeful of getting a reasonable amount of funding from SportEngland for the next funding period (2013-17). The bid was submitted a couple of months ago, and the decision should is due around the new year.

SportEngland funding covers both the "increasing participation"/development programme (in England) and the "talent development" programme, which includes work with talented athletes at club/regional level (in England) and also junior international competitions up to and including JWOC.

I think it's fair to say that BOF feels that the submitted bid for Sport England funding is pretty strong, and although all of the original targets in terms of participation numbers etc haven't been met, a lot of other sports have performed worse than orienteering.

(I believe that Northern Ireland are similarly hopeful of funding continuing at a decent level; I don't know about the situation in Scotland. There's very little hope of any funding in Wales.)

But it is almost certain that there will be no funding from UK Sport - ie. no outside funding for the UK-wide "performance"/senior international/WOC programme. Central government decided several years ago that only Olympic sports should get this performance funding after 2013.

Because of this, there haven't been any official WOC performance targets for a while - as I understand it, UK Sport didn't see any point in setting targets for BOF once it had been decided that performance funding for orienteering definitely would not be renewed whatever happened.

[Gross]

there haven't been any official WOC performance targets for a while - as I understand it, UK Sport didn't see any point in setting targets for BOF once it had been decided that performance funding for orienteering definitely would not be renewed whatever happened.

But surely there must be some kind of internal targets in BOF. If BOF is expecting the performance funding shortfall to be filled by it's own resources and membership funding then it follows there should be some kind of performance measurement in place to allow the membership to judge the success or otherwise of the performance programme. (and before anyone jumps at me I am not questioning the individual targets of individual athletes - that's between them and their coaches etc and they will have made their own judgements - good, bad or indifferent).

[denbydale]

there haven't been any official WOC performance targets for a while - as I understand it, UK Sport didn't see any point in setting targets for BOF once it had been decided that performance funding for orienteering definitely would not be renewed whatever happened.

But surely there must be some kind of internal targets in BOF. If BOF is expecting the performance funding shortfall to be filled by it's own resources and membership funding then it follows there should be some kind of performance measurement in place to allow the membership to judge the success or otherwise of the performance programme. (and before anyone jumps at me I am not questioning the individual targets of individual athletes - that's between them and their coaches etc and they will have made their own judgements - good, bad or indifferent).

You're putting words in my mouth I didn't say!

[Red Adder]

Seems that the Govt is only interesting in funding activity that might lead to bright shiny medals from the few (no doubt hoping some will reflect on to them) and doesn't really care about spending on the fitness (and therefore health) of the masses.

Saw Cameron interviewed on Sunday and he clearly hasn't a real clue about sports beyond being pictured with Royals and Shlebs in the free seats - and his other knowledge depends on what nanny tells him his kids have been up to.

So don't expect any Govt money any time soon.

And then there was BoJo's demand for 2 hrs compulsory competive sports in state schools like what you have in private boarding schools - as someone explaIned to me thats to stop the older boys informally practicing their All-In Wrestling skills on the younger ones between end of classes and Dinner.

[Dave]

and his other knowledge depends on what nanny tells him his kids have been up to.

hanging out in pubs?

[graeme]

Saw Cameron interviewed on Sunday and he clearly hasn't a real clue about sports.

Wasn't he in a football team with greywolf?

[greywolf]

cricket. it was a long time ago and he seemed harmless

[Wayward-O]

But it is almost certain that there will be no funding from UK Sport ...

Orienteering doesn't quite have the right demographic - we don't have >50% ex-public school types.

[andypat]

We dont?

[King Penguin]

I suspect we have a higher-than-national-average who have participated in further education, 18+.

[AndyC]

I would also comment that we have a fair percentage of ex-military people especially officers some of whom started during their period of service. ( Freefall I know you started prior to your time in uniform)

[Dave]

Large Ex-military membership
Athletes with BSc or better

we're sorted then

[Karen]

Also interesting that BOF seems really prepared for the anticipated rush of keen, new sports people wanting to take part in all sorts of sports... the headline on the website introduces all these new comers to a list of courses for club & event officials

Better BO home page now, but had to chuckle at the first photo which seems to show a nice lady running in a pancake race.......