Administration threat hangs over Vancouver involvement

BRITISH Olympic chiefs are preparing a contingency plan in case the national ski and snowboard federation, which has major financial problems, goes into administration before the Winter Games next month.

The British Ski and Snowboard Federation, which trades as Snowsport GB, needs a 200,000 cash injection to keep operating.

The financial problems have raised questions as to whether snowboarder Zoe Gillings and skier Chemmy Alcott would be able to compete in Vancouver if the federation was in administration.

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British Olympic Association chief executive Andy Hunt said: "We are fully aware of the situation and have been briefed on the steps being taken by Snowsport GB to remedy the financial shortfall.

"The BOA's absolute priority is to do everything possible to ensure that the athletes are able to compete in the Vancouver Games as members of Team GB.

"We have developed a contingency plan and, should it become necessary to do so, will submit it to our board for consideration.

"We are in communication with the relevant team leaders and officials to reassure them that we are monitoring the situation closely and are doing everything we can to support them."

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Oliver Jones, chairman of the federation, said administration was an option.

He said: "Administration is only one of a number of outcomes which may come out of this. The federation has had a particularly difficult year, made worse by the economic background.

"As a winter sports federation, we have seen our funding substantially curtailed in recent years and we have become increasingly dependent on more private funding."

He added: "I know we are living through extremely tough times, but I find it extraordinary that we have not been able to raise the 200,000 we need. It is not too late for someone in Government to think again."

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Sean Rose won Great Britain's first International Paralympic Committee Alpine Skiing World Cup gold medal with downhill victory in Sestriere, Italy.

"Hearing the National Anthem for the first time at the World Cup prize-giving was a fantastic experience," said Rose.