Sheffield anger as elite volleyball cash axed
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SHEFFIELD-based elite sports teams have hit out after having their funding axed – despite record levels of grants overall.
While some sports which train in the city received huge increases in funding from UK Sport, the British volleyball and table tennis teams had nothing at all.
Boxing, based at Attercliffe’s English Institute of Sport Sheffield, is seeing its funding rise from £9.6 million in the four years before the London 2012 Olympics to £13.8m for the next four years after success at the Games.
UK Sport, the Government’s funding body for elite sport, dished out £347 million of grants overall for the next four years.
A further £493 million will be ploughed into developing grass-roots sport across the UK in the same period.
But Richard Callicott, of the British Volleyball Federation, whose players also train at EIS Sheffield, said: “We could not be more disappointed that the hard work and commitment of our athletes and coaches have been rewarded with the utter obliteration of the sport at elite level. The funding decision seems frankly unfair after our brilliant endeavours at London 2012.
“At the games, the GB indoor women’s team rose 49 places in the world rankings and sitting volleyball created so many new enthusiasts at the Paralympics.
“I am shocked our sporting leaders could be so dismissive of such a mighty effort.”
Sheffield International Venues, which runs EIS Sheffield, said it welcomed the elite and grass roots funding.
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Saturday 25 May 2013
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