 GB success is seen as being key to the 2012 Games |
UK Sport's performance director has dismissed fears that Britain's push for 2012 Olympic success could be derailed by a lack of government funding. Britain has targeted fourth place in the medals table at the London Olympics despite finishing 10th in Athens 2004.
Liz Nicholl revealed 20 out of 27 sports had met their latest performance targets to trigger funding payments.
But Nicholl said: "There can be no hiding places now - we can no longer blame a lack of resources."
Of the 27 sports or disciplines UK Sport is working with, 20 are due to receive 100% of agreed funding over the next quarter.
These include additions to the world-class system such as handball, volleyball, and water polo, and sports such as table tennis receiving UK Sport funding for the first time.
Seven sports did not receive their full agreed funding - hockey, boxing, weightlifting, synchronised swimming, shooting, badminton and basketball.
UK Sport said all of the seven were making progress "to ensure that outstanding issues are speedily resolved".
John Steele, the chief executive of UK Sport, said: "It is essential we get funding flowing directly to the sports and athletes as quickly as possible, if we are to see the quantum leap in performance required to meet our goals.
"The good news is that all the hard work is paying off."
UK Sport has also published performance targets for those sports funded on its World-Class Performance Plan prior to 1 April 2006. These will assess how each sport performs in its most significant international competition in 2006.
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 