UK Sport targets at least 48 Olympic and 121 Paralympic medals at Rio 2016
UK Sport, the nation’s high performance sports agency, has today (Thursday 14 July) announced targets of at least 48 Olympic and 121 Paralympic medals for the British teams heading to the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Having invested a record £350 million from Government and The National Lottery into Olympic and Paralympic sports and athletes over the past four years, achieving UK Sport’s target would represent a historic best ever away Olympics, and bettering the London 2012 home Paralympics medal haul.
Also revealed today were the medal target ranges agreed with each British Olympic and Paralympic sport heading to Rio 2016. The medal target ranges of 47-79 Olympic and 113-165 Paralympic medals show that the ambitious aspirational goal of becoming the first host nation to win more Olympic and Paralympic medals at the next Games post-hosting, set out at the beginning of the Rio investment cycle in December 2012, is within range. While the goal remains within the ranges, UK Sport’s analysis shows a historic best away Olympics is a more probable target.
British Fencing’s Chief Executive, Georgina Usher said; “There is no doubt that the GB Fencing Team heading to Rio is one of our most talented teams in recent history.
“We are particularly grateful for all the support that we receive from UK Sport and the National Lottery, which has enabled us to qualify a team for the first time since 1992.”
The Performance Director, Alex Newton added; “With less than two weeks before we head to Rio, we are confident that we have the best prepared fencing team going to an Olympic Games. With the backing of Lottery funding from UK Sport alongside the additional support provided by the British Olympic Association, we believe that we can improve on our results in London and support the goal of this being Great Britain’s best ever away Games.”
Rod Carr, Chair of UK Sport, said; “Our vision at UK Sport is to inspire the nation through Olympic and Paralympic success, and thanks to the ongoing backing of our Government and National Lottery players, the targets announced today show we are on track to make history once again.
“We know these inspirational medal moments live long in the public’s memory and their impact is significant for the whole nation for years to come; uniting us, inspiring us and ultimately making us proud as a nation.”
Liz Nicholl, CEO of UK Sport, said; “Targeting a record breaking away Olympic Games and a Paralympic medal haul that surpasses that of London 2012 shows the ambition and talent within our high performance system.
“Our aspirational goal to become the first host nation to eclipse our London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic medal haul has proved hugely motivational and we are delighted that these incredibly challenging goals sit within both Olympic and Paralympic medal ranges. This shows that our aspirational goal has kept British sport united, motivated and determined to build on those incredible successes in London.
“We have a greater number of sports targeting medals that we did in Beijing in 2008, which shows a high performance system that is growing stronger and more sustainable Games after Games.”
Simon Timson, Director of Performance at UK Sport, said; “Beijing 2008 was a record breaking Olympics for Team GB, but I’m confident we can top it in Rio and make this our best ever away Games, while ParalympicsGB can eclipse their haul from London.
“With the backing of National Lottery players and through our partnership with the British Olympic Association and the British Paralympic Association, ours will be the best supported and prepared athletes in Rio bar none, primed and ready to once again make the nation proud.”
Tracey Crouch, Minister for Sport, said: “The whole country will be right behind Team GB and ParalympicsGB in Rio. Preparations over the last four years have gone well with UK Sport working hard, alongside the British Olympic Association and British Paralympic Association, to confirm Britain’s position as one of the leading Olympic and Paralympic nations in the world. While competition in Rio will be strong I know that our athletes are ready to give it their all and make our country proud.”
Bill Sweeney, Chief Executive of the British Olympic Association, said; “We fully believe Team GB can once again make history at this summer’s Olympic Games and unite the nation. This is an extremely talented team and with the very best support in place in Rio we will provide a platform for Olympic Sports to confidently strive for their goals.
“We are proud that our partnership with UK Sport continues to develop for the benefit of the nation’s athletes and those who are inspired by Team GB. We look forward to leaving for Rio very soon for what we confidently believe with be a tremendously successful Olympic Games for both athletes and fans.”
You can find medal target for each sport here.
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