The Youth Charter 2018 Games Legacy Impact Summary Report is focused on the following two recommendations:
- Investment Model and Framework for British and World Sport
- Sports funding linked directly to Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Participation
The success of the Olympic Team GB at Pyeongchang 2018 saw a record five medals won at a cost of:
- £28.21million for 58 sports and 5 national governing bodies of sport
- £5.64million per medal
- £486,000 per athlete
In response the Youth Charter would like to ask:
- Is this value for money?
- Will this help improve school sport?
- Will this help address the UK’s health inequalites?
- Will this help address the UK’s youth crime and violence challenges?
The funding issue has best been highlighted by the plight of Basketball, a mass participation and inclusive sport, that has had its funding cut. This issue was raised in parliament Labour MP Alex Sobel, who said:
“Teams like those in disadvantaged communities in Sheffield, in Leeds, in London, and in other urban centres, have high aspirations and want one day to play for our national team. UK Sport recently announced £226 million for Olympic eligible sports until 2021 including £14.5 million for equestrian sports, £25.5 million for sailing and over £6 million for modern pentathlon - a sport that requires a horse, a sword and a gun. None of these sports are within reach of the young people we see playing basketball.We’re funding elite sports for elites.”
This was supported by Labour MP David Lammy, who said:
“This [basketball] is an urban sport, and one which attracts black, Asian and minority ethnic communities in large numbers. Why is it, then, that hockey received £28.1 million ($39 million/€31 million) and rugby league received £51.6 million ($72 million/€58 million)? Why is it that canoeing, equestrian, rowing and cycling all do so much better? Where is the equity in that formula?”