UK Sport outlines mission to create greatest decade of extraordinary sporting moments
- UK Sport outlines ambition to remain a top five summer medal nation in Paris 2024 and beyond
- Medal success to sit alongside desire to drive positive social change
- Almost 100 event hosting opportunities being considered which collectively represent potential £7bn boost to UK economy
- 22 events already secured through to 2024
UK Sport has today unveiled a new strategic plan which is guided by a mission to create the greatest decade of extraordinary sporting moments; reaching, inspiring and uniting the nation.
As part of the new strategic plan UK Sport has published the nation’s international event hosting aspirations for the next decade, from the previously announced 2030 FIFA World Cup to over 40 World Championships from sports such as boxing, athletics, wheelchair rugby and taekwondo.
In total, the list includes 97 events across 44 sports and spans 46 World Championships. Collectively they represent a potential boost to the UK economy of close to £7bn (6.83bn), would attract over 13 million fans with 95% of the UK population living within two hours of a hosting venue. 71 of the events on the list are dual gender and 22 have already been secured, with a further eight, including the Rugby World Cup (for women), European Athletics Championships, FIFA World Cup, Ryder Cup and FIH Hockey World Cup all undergoing live feasibility studies.
The full list is available here.
UK Sport Strategic Plan 2021-31
Supporting UK Sport’s new mission are three ambitions:
1: Keep winning and win well
2: Grow a thriving sporting system
3: Inspire positive change
A complete overview of the new strategic plan is available here.
UK Sport’s Strategic Plan 2021-31 involves some significant shifts for the high-performance sport community. While winning and being competitive at the highest level remains the priority, there is a recognition that sporting success creates a powerful platform to inspire and effect lasting positive change for individuals and society.
What success looks like
Keeping winning and win well includes an ambitious target of achieving a top five finish in the Summer Olympic and Paralympic medal tables in Paris and beyond while also becoming an ever-greater force in Winter Olympic and Paralympic sport. In parallel, there is a commitment to uphold the highest standards of ethics, integrity and athlete welfare while supporting a more diverse group of athletes to win medals across a broader range of Olympic and Paralympic sports.
As part of the second ambition around a thriving sporting system, UK Sport wants to drive increased collaboration and ensure every organisation which receives investment upholds the highest standards of ethics and integrity while also operating efficiently and effectively. Success needs to be sustainable and so UK Sport will be working with partners to unlock future investment while also making sure the UK continues to shape the future of high-performance sport on the world stage.
To achieve the third ambition, inspiring positive change, UK Sport will harness the power and platform of sporting success to drive change across wellbeing, diversity, inclusion and sustainability. This will be supported by an aspiration to see a growing, more diverse and engaged Olympic and Paralympic sport fanbase.
A decade of the biggest sporting events
The list of event hosting aspirations published today is the most comprehensive ever assembled and is only possible thanks to the continued support of Government and The National Lottery.
With some of the biggest global events, including the Commonwealth Games, Rugby League World Cup, and the rescheduled UEFA European Championships (men and women) confirmed, the coming decade already promises thrilling entertainment for the British public.
Furthermore, in 2023 Glasgow, Scotland hosts the first ever combined Cycling World Championships which will bring together the World Championships of all 13 cycling disciplines from road and velodrome racing right through to BMX Freestyle and downhill.
Looking further ahead, new hosting opportunities being considered include major competitions for several exciting new Olympic sports including the World Skateboarding Championships and the World Climbing Championships, giving fans the chance to get up close to some of the most thrilling action Olympic sport has to offer. In the Paralympic arena, the Para Table Tennis World Championship and Boccia World Championship are both new additions to the list.
Speaking about the launch of UK Sport’s new strategy, Dame Katherine Grainger, Chair of UK Sport said: “Together we have achieved so much in Olympic and Paralympic sport. Nevertheless, we are very aware there is no room for complacency and that we must build on our success to create the next exciting phase of high-performance sport.
“One where we work even more collaboratively and inclusively to keep winning and win well, in ways that will inspire more people and have a broader impact on our society.
“Achieving on the world stage will still sit firmly at the heart of what we do. But we should not underestimate the powerful platform that provides us with, and it is our shared responsibility to better harness this for positive social change.”
Minister for Sport Nigel Huddleston said: “Sport is set to play a pivotal role in getting our nation moving again as we exit the pandemic – inspiring people of all ages to get active, rebuilding our communities and driving significant employment and investment.
"UK Sport’s new ten-year plan sets out a clear vision that reflects our determination to help our athletes enjoy medal success while ensuring the highest standards of ethics and integrity. We also want the UK to be the destination of choice for the world's greatest sporting events building on our fantastic reputation as hosts.”
Commenting on the latest event list, Sally Munday, CEO of UK Sport said: “With the support of The National Lottery and Government the UK has built a global reputation as a first-class destination forthe biggest sporting occasions. Combining a knowledgeable and passionate sporting public with our well-established infrastructure and technical event hosting expertise means the UK is primed to maintain its position as a global sport event hosting force for many years to come.”
