13 May 2021
UK Sport's new 10-year strategy includes plan to secure major events worth £7bn
BY Tom Walker
UK Sport has outlined its mission to create the "greatest decade of extraordinary sporting moments", driven by success at the Paris 2024 Games and the hosting of major events.
The high performance agency's new 10-year strategic plan includes proposals to host nearly 100 events, which collectively represent a £7bn boost to the UK economy.
It has already secured 22 events through to 2024.
In total, the list includes 97 events across 44 sports, spanning 46 world championships, with specific events being targeted including the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
In addition to the ambitious events schedule, the agency'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.
Specifically, the new mission identifies ambitions – "Keep winning and win well", "Grow a thriving sporting system" and "Inspire positive change".
In its strategy document, UK Sport says: "Keeping winning and win well includes an ambitious target of achieving a top five finish in the Summer Olympic and Paralympic medal tables at the Paris 2024 Games 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."
Describing its second ambition, relating to a thriving sporting system, UK Sport said it 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," it states.
To achieve the third ambition – to inspire positive change – UK Sport plans to 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.
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.”
• To download and read the full strategic plan, click here.
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