British Swimming agrees home nations investment
Future investment within Scotland and Wales has been agreed following close consultation between British Swimming, Scottish Swimming and Swim Wales.
Funding from 2014 to 2017 will be spread across three different streams and will support a strategy of resource being more sharply focused on producing medallists for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and beyond.
Core funding will be provided to support the infrastructure of the Scottish Swimming and Swim Wales performance pathways. Two further streams will enhance the support of young athletes within the performance pathway; and athletes currently at Podium and Podium Potential level will continue to be able to access resource for camps, competitions and sport science support in partnership with sportscotland and Sport Wales institutes.
The Intensive Training Centre (ITC) model previously set up by British Swimming has been removed and as such the ITCs in Stirling and Swansea will finish on 31st December 2013.
“We’re pleased to have reached an agreement with Scottish Swimming and Swim Wales on investment within the home nations,” said British Swimming National Performance Director Chris Spice.
“We will be investing in Scotland and Wales’ elite swimming infrastructure and the funding will be targeted towards athletes that have a realistic chance of winning medals on the international stage up to Tokyo 2020 and beyond.
“In addition we will also be investing in the performance pathway of the sport to help produce athletes of the future. We’re investing in the future of swimming in Scotland and Wales, and therefore the future of British Swimming.
“Scottish Swimming and Swim Wales have been very professional throughout the whole process and I’m looking forward to continuing to work closely with them to maximise performances of our best athletes and finding our stars of the future.”
Commenting on the funding agreement, Ally Whike, Scottish Swimming’s Director of Performance, said: “The new agreement with British Swimming and the sportscotland Institute of Sport recognises the approach and the success that Scottish Swimming has had in the past few years and provides investment and support to enhance what we are doing in Scotland.
“We have strong partnerships around our four performance centres in Aberdeen, Stirling, Glasgow and Edinburgh, and this investment allows us to enhance these partnerships, ensuring we continue to support and develop the coaches and athletes in the programmes.”
Robert James, Chief Executive of Swim Wales, said: “Swim Wales in embarking on the next steps towards continuing the success of its elite swimmers and is very pleased that an agreement has been reached which will see British Swimming continue an investment and partnership in the Welsh Swimming Performance Pathway.
“Together with Sport Wales, it is envisaged the British swimming investment will support Swim Wales in our long term strategies. Our immediate focus continues to be on the 2014 Commonwealth Games where we will be seeking to build upon our medal tally from Delhi.
“This investment will only help to enhance the support we can provide our swimmers and further develop the pathway for identifying the Welsh swimming stars of the future.”
