London Latest - Olympic Sport Funding; Canoe Venue; Student Tickets

Funding Boost for Britain's 2012 Medal Goals

Six Olympic sports received a major boost in their London 2012 preparations Thursday after UK Sport announced extra funding for them in the push for medal success.

The British government's funding agency for elite sport said that hockey, gymnastics, boxing, taekwondo, rowing and canoeing were getting increases ranging between $310,233 and $1.78 million. Badminton has had its funding reduced, reflecting performances at recent championships.

It is part of UK Sport’s annual funding review for summer sports, with the additional money coming partly from strong lottery sales.

Sue Campbell, chair of UK Sport, said: "2010 has been an incredibly positive year for many of our Summer Olympic and Paralympic sports and our announcement today reflects that sense of momentum to 2012.

"Sports now know what they have for the final push – this review represents the last significant opportunity for changes to investment before 2012.

"We believe we have got it right for hitting our targets in two years time – not just in finishing in the top 4 in the Olympics and second in the Paralympics but, crucially for a home Games, winning more medals across more sports than ever before."

Olympics minister Hugh Robertson said the announcement "demonstrates our commitment to support our top athletes across a range of sports to make sure they can reach their potential".

In its first round of winter sports funding, UK Sport increased its overall investment from $10.2 million for Vancouver to $17.8 million for Sochi.

Skeleton is the biggest beneficiary, following Amy Williams's skeleton gold in Vancouver, with a funding increase of $3.3 million.

But there is no investment at all in figure skating, men’s bobsleigh, snowboarding and skiing.

Judged on the same ‘no compromise’ criteria as the summer sports, they failed to meet the performance criteria needed to receive funding.

Campbell added: "Beijing showed that the UK Sport ‘no compromise’ approach works and it is right this is now embedded across the whole high performance system."

Early Legacy as Canoe Slalom Venue Opens

The Princess Royal unveiled the 2012 Olympic canoe slalom facility Thursday, the first brand new venue to be completed for the London Games.

The IOC member from Great Britain joined 2012 organizers including LOCOG chair Seb Coe, Olympic Delivery Authority head John Armitt and Olympics minister Hugh Robertson at the official opening of the Lee Valley White Water Centre in Broxbourne, just north of London.

Team GB canoeists tested the Olympic course for thefirst time today.

The $49 million venue will open to the public for rafting and canoeing in April, delivering an early legacy over a year before the Games begin.

"With the centre open to the public both before and after the thrilling action at Games-time, it really does demonstrate the great legacy that London 2012 will leave for users from elite athletes to kids from local communities," Coe said.

The ODA started construction work on the venue in July 2009. ODA chairman Armitt said described completion of the venue - on budget and over 18 months before the Games - as "a huge milestone".

"Seeing canoeists and rafters use the courses for the first time gives us a glimpse of the excitement we can expect here in 2012 and the world-class new facilities that people of all ages and abilities will be able to use for many years to come," he said.

Canoeing is the fastest growing water sport in the U.K. with 1.2 million participants.

After testing the course, Campbell Walsh, Olympic silver medallist in Canoe Slalom, said: "It’s hugely exciting to test the rapids at the new Lee Valley White Water Centre for the first time. The course looks great and I'm sure it will make a spectacle of a race for the Olympic Games."

The Lee Valley White Water Centre is located on a 10 hectare site covering an area the equivalent of 25 full-size football pitches. Facilities include an Olympic standard 300m competition course, a 160m intermediate/training course and a finish lake covering an area of 10,000m2 (1 hectare).

At Games-time, the venue will host five days of canoe slalom competition. A total of 82 competitors will compete in four events with four sets of medals. Temporary seating will be installed around the venue for about 12,000 spectators.

In legacy mode, the venue will become a major leisure attraction for canoeing and white water rafting as well as a venue for future international competition.

Free 2012 Tickets for London Youngsters

London Mayor Boris Johnson has secured funding from LOCOG for 125,000 free 2012 tickets for London schoolchildren.

LOCOG had already made 50,000 tickets available for free through the London 2012 Hospitality Programme. On Thursday, Olympic organizers struck a deal that means the remaining 75,000 tickets required for the scheme will also be funded by the same program.

"One in eight of the capital’s school kids will get to experience firsthand the planet’s greatest sporting spectacle for free and, importantly, at no cost to the taxpayer," Johnson said.

"I hope that this offer motivates thousands of young Londoners to get out there and take up a sport so we see a new generation of athletes from our very own city going for gold in 2016 and beyond."

With reporting from Mark Bisson