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Tokyo 2020: Fourteen sports to get funding boost from Aspiration Fund

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Badminton and wheelchair rugbyImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Badminton and wheelchair rugby are among the sports to benefit from the funding

Fourteen Olympic and Paralympic sports have received investment from the new 拢3m Aspiration Fund to help support their ambitions for Tokyo 2020.

The government-backed Aspiration Fund was announced in October this year and aims to support those sports which do not receive full UK Sport funding.

The sports to benefit are archery, artistic swimming, badminton, beach volleyball, climbing, fencing, goalball, karate, skateboarding, softball, surfing, table tennis, weightlifting and wheelchair rugby.

Sports Minister Mims Davies said: "The Olympic and Paralympic Games are the pinnacle for athletes across the world.

"This 拢3m fund will give more athletes in more sports the chance to compete at the very top in Tokyo.

"It will help Great Britain and Northern Ireland continue to be a leading Olympic and Paralympic nation and I am sure the athletes that will benefit will inspire the nation and help their sports grow."

Great Britain won 67 medals, including 27 golds, at the 2016 Olympics and 147 medals, including 64 golds, at the 2016 Paralympics.

Liz Nicholl, chief executive of UK Sport, added: "This new Aspiration Fund is a fantastic opportunity for these athletes and sports to get on track for the Tokyo Games.

"Many of the sports we are currently unable to support, while further away from reaching the podium, have the potential not only to inspire through their performances on the field of play but also to inspire new audiences to engage in sport and activity.

"We'd like to thank the government for their continued support for UK Sport's mission to inspire the nation through Olympic and Paralympic success."

How much will each sport get?

The following table includes the breakdown of investments, less the costs of running the programme.

Sport

Award amount

Sport

Award amount

Archery

拢192,500

Artistic swimming

拢192,500

Badminton

拢259,679

Beach volleyball

拢68,750

Climbing

拢192,500

Fencing

拢192,500

Goalball

拢125,000

Karate

拢68,750

Skateboarding

拢166,825

Softball

拢62,500

Surfing

拢192,500

Table tennis

拢275,000

Weightlifting

拢192,500

Wheelchair rugby

拢500,000

Unallocated funds*

拢118,496

*拢118,496 will be held by UK Sport to consider investments for sports to attend qualification events where appropriate, e.g. women's basketball.