Dame Katherine Grainger: the sports chair in the United Kingdom “Frustrated” Great Britain does not host more events
The sports president of the United Kingdom Dame Katherine Grainger says that it is “frustrating” that Great Britain does not stage more important events in the next decade, warning of “a great gap”.
“We risk public investments, we risk global reputation, we risk opportunities for athletes,” said the head of the BBC Sport financing agency.
The former Olympic rowing champion is leaving his most senior figure role in Olympic and Paralympic sport after eight years in command.
In addition to the financing of elite athletes, the Sport of the United Kingdom tries to ensure that the country’s offers and stage the greatest events in the world.
“We have a great reputation for this,” he said. “But I think we have challenges in the future.
“We have some (events) in line. But when it comes to” Mega-Events “, after 2028 we have nothing sure.”
The number of important events hosted in the United Kingdom has been falling since the beginning of the decade.
This year Britain will host the Rugby Union World Cup in England, together with the 2026 Commonwealth games in Glasgow and the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.
Last week, it was confirmed that the competitions of the Male and Female French Tour of the French and women will both begin in Great Britain in 2027
But while the nations of the house have also expressed their intention to present a joint offer for the 2035 women’s football cup, Grainer says that it is necessary to do more.
“We don’t want uncultivated years,” he said. “After 2028, we really called nothing. It is a great gap.
“There are many events that are still there for the socket. It is quite obvious the reason why these mega-adventures are so important for the country, yet perhaps we have not clarified the case.
“Perhaps it is a very difficult moment, especially for the government to financially support, but there is something that we could still do to get more security … We need more to make sure we have eye bulbs consistent in this country, on what we are doing in sport.
“Nobody can be pleased with our place within global sport and I think we should still have great ambitions on what we can do later, and this will require collaboration”.
While the United Kingdom has obtained a package of record government funding of £ 330 million for its sports in the next four years to pursue medals at the Los Angeles 2028 games, he hopes for greater financial support to make offers for important events.
The winning offers can take several years of campaigns and Grainger has highlighted the world championships of world athletics of 2029, the 2030 Solheim Cup and the 2031 Ryder Cup as possible targets.
He also said there was “a really good conversation” for the special Olympics for people with intellectual disabilities. Currently it is located outside the UK Sport financing mandate and the event has never been staged in the United Kingdom.
The DCMS was contacted for a comment.
