BBF awarded Progression Funding by UK Sport

The British Basketball Federation has been awarded £1.35m Progression Funding by UK Sport to help the Great Britain national teams target the Olympic Games. 

The award covers the qualification cycle for Paris 2024, with the first year of support agreed from April 2021. 

Interim chair of the BBF, Toni Minichiello, said: “I am delighted our application to UK Sport has been successful. 

“This money allows us to have a longer-term strategy to re-establish the national governing body after a difficult financial period and to build on the recent progress of our men’s and women’s national teams. 

“It is a positive outcome and we can target it at what it is intended for, which is helping the senior teams to the next level. It still leaves us with more hard work to do but we are pleased that we can move forward. 

“Basketball is a huge part of communities across England, Scotland and Wales and it is vital our elite teams play their part as roles models with support that gives them a better chance of succeeding.” 

UK Sport’s new funding strategy comes into force in April 2021.  

The funding tiers are ‘Podium’, Podium Potential’ and ‘Progression’. UK Sport describe Progession Funding as ‘support to provide athletes with an even greater chance of succeeding at the Games over a longer timeframe’. 

Dame Katherine Grainger, Chair of UK Sport, said: “I’m delighted that thanks to the support of the Government and The National Lottery players, we’ve been able to set out clear support for our Olympic and Paralympic sports, to help them get ready for Tokyo and beyond.” 

Nigel Huddleston, Minister for Sport, said: “As we emerge from the pandemic our athletes will have our full support to focus on delivering more memorable medal-winning performances.”