UK Sport Press Release: UK Sport targets 'best ever away Olympics' and 'better than London Paralympics' in Rio

UK Sport targets at least 48 Olympic and 121 Paralympic medals at Rio 2016 Record 39 Olympic and Paralympic sports targeting a medal in Rio 2016 Target ranges agreed with sports 47-79 Olympic and 113-165 Paralympic medals, respectivelyUK Sport, the nation’s high performance sports agency, has today (Thursday 14 July) announced targets of at least 48 Olympic and 121 Paralympic medals for the British teams heading to the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Having invested a record £350 million from Government and The National Lottery into Olympic and Paralympic sports and athletes over the past four years, achieving UK Sport’s target would represent a historic best ever away Olympics, and bettering the London 2012 home Paralympics medal haul.

Also revealed today were the medal target ranges agreed with each British Olympic and Paralympic sport heading to Rio 2016. The medal target ranges of 47-79 Olympic and 113-165 Paralympic medals show that the ambitious aspirational goal of becoming the first host nation to win more Olympic and Paralympic medals at the next Games post-hosting, set out at the beginning of the Rio investment cycle in December 2012, is within range. While the goal remains within the ranges, UK Sport’s analyses shows a historic best away Olympics is a more probable target.

Rod Carr, Chair of UK Sport, said: "Our vision at UK Sport is to inspire the nation through Olympic and Paralympic success, and thanks to the ongoing backing of our Government and National Lottery players, the targets announced today show we are on track to make history once again.

"We know these inspirational medal moments live long in the public’s memory and their impact is significant for the whole nation for years to come; uniting us, inspiring us and ultimately making us proud as a nation."

Liz Nicholl, CEO of UK Sport, said: "Targeting a record breaking away Olympic Games and a Paralympic medal haul that surpasses that of London 2012 shows the ambition and talent within our high performance system.

"Our aspirational goal to become the first host nation to eclipse our London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic medal haul has proved hugely motivational and we are delighted that these incredibly challenging goals sit within both Olympic and Paralympic medal ranges. This shows that our aspirational goal has kept British sport united, motivated and determined to build on those incredible successes in London.

"We have a greater number of sports targeting medals that we did in Beijing in 2008, which shows a high performance system that is growing stronger and more sustainable Games after Games."

Simon Timson, Director of Performance at UK Sport, said: "Beijing 2008 was a record breaking Olympics for Team GB, but I’m confident we can top it in Rio and make this our best ever away Games, while ParalympicsGB can eclipse their haul from London.

"With the backing of National Lottery players and through our partnership with the British Olympic Association and the British Paralympic Association, ours will be the best supported and prepared athletes in Rio bar none, primed and ready to once again make the nation proud."

Tracey Crouch, Minister for Sport, said: "The whole country will be right behind Team GB and ParalympicsGB in Rio. Preparations over the last four years have gone well with UK Sport working hard, alongside the British Olympic Association and British Paralympic Association, to confirm Britain's position as one of the leading Olympic and Paralympic nations in the world. While competition in Rio will be strong I know that our athletes are ready to give it their all and make our country proud."

Bill Sweeney, Chief Executive of the British Olympic Association, said: "We fully believe Team GB can once again make history at this summer’s Olympic Games and unite the nation. This is an extremely talented team and with the very best support in place in Rio we will provide a platform for Olympic Sports to confidently strive for their goals.

"We are proud that our partnership with UK Sport continues to develop for the benefit of the nation’s athletes and those who are inspired by Team GB. We look forward to leaving for Rio very soon for what we confidently believe with be a tremendously successful Olympic Games for both athletes and fans."

Tim Hollingsworth, Chief Executive of the British Paralympic Association, said: "With just eight weeks to go ParalympicsGB is in great shape for Rio. We will be taking what is undoubtedly our most competitive team ever to the most competitive Paralympic Games ever.

"The eyes of the world truly opened for the Paralympic Games in London and with that increased focus has come greater investment, intelligence and higher performance from many countries. This is fantastic for the Paralympic movement and for Paralympic sport but with that competition comes greater pressure on ParalympicsGB to continue to be one of the world-leading Paralympic nations.

"The medal target is certainly an ambitious one, and we believe we can achieve a medal tally that falls within this range. We pride our team on being best prepared and we’re certain that everything has gone into achieving medal winning performance for Rio."

For more information, please contact:

UK Sport Press Office:

02072115120

Paul Cox, Head of Communications:

paul.cox@uksport.gov.uk

Jess Whitehorn, Senior Press Officer:

jessica.whitehorn@uksport.gov.uk

Grace Cullen, Press Officer:

grace.cullen@uksport.gov.uk

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