The biggest shake-up of the National Lottery since it was launched was announced by the Government today and it could have positive benefits for the funding of elite sport.
The Government White Paper on National Lottery Funding proposes to introduce legislation that would allow the interest accrued by the larger distributors to be re-administered across the other Good Causes in proportion to their current allocated percentages.
As a result UK Sport, along with other distributors, could see its income from the National Lottery rise, although it is too early to predict exact figures preliminary calculations suggest anything up to £2 million a year could be possible.
UK Sport receives 9.2% of the money allocated for Good Causes to administer to elite athletes capable of winning medals on the world stage, either now or in the future.
This equates to approximately £25 million to fund the World Class Performance Programme across 26 Olympic and Paralympic sports. In addition £1.6 million is used to support bids to bring major international sporting events to the United Kingdom.
One of the initiatives announced today in the Government’s White Paper will see Olympic athletes sharing their training techniques with the public as part of a new National Lottery Day, when all distributors open their doors to the show what they do with Lottery funds.
All National Lottery projects, including athlete clothing, will also carry the ‘crossed fingers’ logo to demonstrate the areas of public life touched by lottery investment.
Richard Callicott, Chief Executive of UK Sport said: ‘Today’s announcement will mark the start of a new era for the National Lottery. The public need to be inspired again to play the game and buy tickets, safe in the knowledge their money is being invested wisely.’
Sport will also benefit from the proposed creation of a new funding stream dedicated to supporting the bid for the UK to stage the 2012 Olympic Games.
Callicott added: ‘Now the Olympic Bid for 2012 is gathering momentum a new Lottery Game will enable the public to invest in its success.
‘We also welcome the potential new funding stream that will ease some of the financial pressures created by the declining ticket revenues on smaller revenue-focused distributors. Every extra penny will help make Britain’s best even better.’
The Lottery Decision Documents outlining today’s review of the National Lottery are available from the DCMS website at www.culture.gov.uk.
Matt Horler
UK Sport Communications Co-ordinator
020 7211 5158
07733 308 706
matthew.horler@uksport.gov.uk