Winter Olympics funding crisis

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Winter Olympics funding crisis

Britain’s participation at next month's Winter Olympics in Vancouver is under threat with the British Ski and Snowboarding Federation (BSSF) on the brink of going into administration.

Athletes must be part of a member federation to compete and the BSSF needs a cash injection of £200,000 before the end of the month if it is to avoid going into administration. Without the funding, the likes of star skier Chemmy Alcott (pictured above) and snowboarder Zoe Gillings, who have spent four years preparing, will be left disappointed.

The BSSF's chairman Oliver Jones still holds out some hope that funding can be found but has admitted that going into administration is a possibility after two funding streams were deferred and the Royal Bank of Scotland withdrew a £30,000 overdraft facility.‘Administration is only one of a number of outcomes which may come out of this,’ he said. ‘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 or the Royal Bank of Scotland to think again.’

There may be an option for the British Olympic Association to immediately form a new federation, although it is not yet clear whether that will satisfy the International Olympic Committee.
The BOA 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.’

Blame for the financial crisis facing the body was directed at the former chief executive of the British Ski and Snowboard Federation, Mark Simmers who was removed from his post last summer after it was revealed that the body had a £400,000 funding gap.