British Rowing Statement on UK Sport Tokyo Cycle Investment

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Today, UK Sport announced its funding of elite sport for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic cycle.  After topping the rowing medal table for the third consecutive Olympic Games and topping the medal table at the Paralympic Games for the first time since Beijing 2008, British Rowing’s funding for Tokyo 2020 is £32.1million for the four year cycle.

“The National Lottery’s support over the years has been instrumental in our consistent success on the water and we are extremely grateful for the funding they provide” Andy Parkinson, CEO of British Rowing

Responding to the announcement, British Rowing’s CEO, Andy Parkinson said: “We are pleased with this award as it recognises our position as a world leading (Priority 1) sport within the UK Sport Merit Table and the belief UK Sport has in our rowers and support staff.

“With the certainty of our funding in place, it is more important than ever that we build on the success of Rio 2016.  We have ambitious plans for the sport as a whole and the success of the GB Team plays a vital part in inspiring people of all ages and backgrounds to try rowing.  In addition, we have recently announced a series of new partners and are actively looking for a new major sponsor to further boost the sport at all levels.”

Having once again led Team GB and ParalympicsGB to the top of the rowing medal tables at the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games, British Rowing’s Performance Director, Sir David Tanner said: “I think this is good news for rowing and I am pleased that our world leading performance at Rio 2016 has once again been recognised by UK Sport.

“To receive this level of support across both Olympic and Paralympic performance programmes shows confidence from UK Sport that our Performance Strategy can achieve our goals for Tokyo 2020 and build on this success for 2024.  To sustain our success, however, we need coherence of our Talent ID and pathway programme and so we will be working closely with Sport England on this important matter.”

Parkinson added: “The National Lottery’s support over the years has been instrumental in our consistent success on the water and we are extremely grateful for the funding they provide.”

The full investment annoucement can be read here.