SportsAid survey reveals spiralling costs for aspiring athletes
Last Updated: 26/09/17 10:37am
Up-and-coming athletes are more reliant than ever on the ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’, according to SportsAid’s latest survey.
SportsAid, who have helped fund the next generation of Olympians, Paralympians and world champions since 1976, surveyed almost 75 per cent of the 1106 athletes they support.
The results show that it cost £6,417 for each of Great Britain's finest prospects to fund their sporting ambitions during 2016/17. That is a total commitment of over £7m for the 1,106 athletes supported by SportsAid over the course of the year.
Other findings included 79 per cent of SportsAid award recipients revealing they would not have been able to train and compete as much without the charity's support. Almost 60 per cent said they would have had to either give up their sport or consider doing so without their SportsAid award.
SportsAid conducted the athlete survey to help highlight and better understand the sacrifices made by young sports stars and their families to train and compete.
The first SportsAid survey, launched in 2007/08, recorded the lowest overall average at £4,885 per athlete.
The majority of athletes supported by SportsAid are aged 12-18, with a typical award value of £1,000 per athlete. Athletes who have been previously supported by the charity include Steve Redgrave, Victoria Pendleton, Jessica Ennis-Hill, Ben Ainslie and Christine Ohuruogu.
