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Paul Goodison hopeful backing can help lift nation
OLYMPIC champion Paul Goodison hopes Government funding cuts will not have a detrimental long-term effect on Britain's medal hopes for the London Games.
Click here to read about the proposed funding cuts.
The Rotherham helmsman sailed to Olympic gold in the laser class in Beijing on the back of a prolongued period of funding for his chosen sport.
Sailing has benefited from backing from the National Lottery since the end of the last decade which has enabled people like Goodison, Ben Ainslie and Pippa Wilson to become household names as Great Britain dominated in the water.
The top sports look to be safe with the National Lottery proposing to raise up to 600m for the London Games.
The Government announced two years ago it would be adding another 100m for 2012, but with half of that figure shaved off the funding budget yesterday, expensive team sports with limited medal prospects such as volleyball, basketball and handball are vulnerable to the cuts.
"Obviously it's critical to have the amount of funding as we had last time," said Goodison, 30, who took gold in Qingdao in August, having finished fourth in Athens four years earlier.
"Everybody was hoping for more with the next Games being in London.
"But with the economy as it is, everything that can be done needs to be done to ensure we have enough funding to build on what we achieved in Beijing.
"Not only that, but there's a feel-good factor that the nation gains from our success in an Olympics.
"It helps to lift everybody."
From an individual sports perspective, concentrated funding – particularly from the Lottery – has enabled Britain to become a leading contender for medals in sports such as rowing, cycling and sailing.
"The funding enables us to do a more thorough programme of events, especially at this time of year when it is difficult to train here in England," said Goodison.
"The money enables us to travel abroad. Just being able to afford the best coaches is a big help as well. You need the best coaches in the world if you are going to compete."
But Goodison admits he does not envy the position of culture secretary Andy Burnham, who has to make the decision on which sports will suffer the cuts.
"It's a really difficult dilemma," said Goodison, who trains at the Lottery-funded sailing facility at Weymouth which was delivered on budget and officially opened last week.
"There is no right answer.
"There is always going to be someone put out by the decision, but by the same token, funding does not guarantee medals, it just gives you a better chance."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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