Campaign for sports funding

Mencap is calling for funding to be reinstated for athletes with a learning disability in the UK.

 

Mencap is calling for funding to be reinstated for athletes with a learning disability in the UK.

Many of our country's most talented athletes have been dropping out of sport altogether as they cannot afford to continue paying for their own training, travel and support.

Without immediate funding athletes with a learning disability will not be ready to compete at the 2012 Paralympic Games.

Suspension from the Paralympic Games

Since the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games events for athletes with a learning disability have been suspended from Paralympic competition. To find out more, read about the suspension.

IPC and INAS-FID are currently working together to find a solution. We are confident that the ban will be lifted in time for athletes to compete in London for the 2012 Games.

Eight years of no funding

Suspension from the Paralympic Games led to the withdrawal of funding for athletes with a learning disability.

Funding is given to athletes on the basis of their potential to win a medal at the Olympic or Paralympic Games. Because athletes with a learning disability are currently unable to compete they are - through no fault of their own - ineligible for funding.

This means that they are faced with a choice - either spend thousands of pounds per year to carry on training and competing or drop out of competitive sport altogether.

What we want

• We want athletes with a learning disability to be have sufficient training so that they can compete at Paralympic standard when the ban is lifted.
• We are calling for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to work with the national governing bodies of sport to fund training and support for these athletes immediately.

What we are doing

• We are in talks with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to try find a solution to ensure that athletes with a learning disability are properly funded.
• We are actively seeking the removal of the suspension of athletes with a learning disability from the Paralympic Games.
• Through Mencap Sport we are supporting athletes with a learning disability to succeed. For more information, find out about Mencap Sport.