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How National Lottery Supports Elite Sport in Wales

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Without funding from the National Lottery, much of the support we give to elite athletes in Wales would not be possible. The makeup of Team GB would look very different without all the Lotto and Thunderball tickets bought over the last year. 

A National Lottery war chest of around £21million will support Welsh sport in 2021/22, with £9.9 million of that supporting elite sport. That money helps elite athletes gain access to world-class facilities, support, training, and advice to help them achieve their Olympic goals.

Lottery funding has helped pay for facilities such as the Principality Stadium, Wales National Pool and the Geraint Thomas National Velodrome. These iconic sporting venues push elite athletes in Wales to their best. 

Vital support services – including those provided at the Sport Wales Institute - in areas like nutrition, performance advice, training plans and physiotherapy, are powered by National Lottery funding. All these disciplines are critical in getting Welsh athletes performing at their best in the top levels of international sport.

 

Sport Wales’ Director of Sport Systems Brian Davies believes National Lottery funding has proved vital at all levels of sport in Wales in recent months and said: “It changes lives – both at community and elite level,

“That’s exactly what it was designed to do. It wasn’t designed to just make a few people millionaires. The lottery has been a significant player for all of Welsh sport.”

Calum Jarvis jumping off the blocks at Gold Coast 2018
World Champion Calum Jarvis at Gold Coast 2018 ahead of his Olympic games this year.

 

Athletes like Natalie Powell and Lauren Price are heading to Tokyo this year after support and guidance made possible by the National Lottery. A staggering £1.75 billion of funding has been invested in Wales since the National Lottery began almost 25 years ago.

Thank you to all National Lottery players – you’re an important part of the team. 

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