Covid-hit sports to receive £300m rescue package

Covid-hit sports will be eligible for funding from a new government initiative which provides £300m as a rescue package for those who need it.

Covid-hit sports will be eligible for funding from a new government initiative which provides £300m as a rescue package for those who need it.

Covid-hit Sport Rescue Package

DCMS minister Oliver Dowden said: “Clubs are the beating hearts of their communities – this boost will help them survive this difficult winter period.”

The government announced that the Sports Winter Survival Package will support a wide variety of sports in order to help them cope with the financial ramifications of Covid by providing predominantly low-interest loans.

Nigel Huddleston, Sports minister, declared that grants would be available where organisations were unable to repay loans. In addition to that, he said “the door was open” to any sport requiring funding, even ones not on the initial list.

The money available is for sports in England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will announce their own schemes.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) statement added: “Preliminary allocations have been made on a needs-based assessment process and reflect the submissions made from the individual sports, and the funding process will be overseen by an independent decision-making board and supported by Sport England.”

It said the first payments will be distributed within a few weeks.

Funding Distribution:

  • Rugby Union: £135m – Rugby Football Union: £44m; Premiership clubs: £59m; Championship clubs: £9m; Clubs below Championship: £23m
  • Horseracing: £40m – To racecourses
  • Football: £28m – National League (steps 1-2): £11m; National League (steps 3-6): £14m; Women’s Football (Women’s Super League and FA Women’s Championship): £3m
  • Rugby League: £12m
  • Motorsport: £6m – Owners/operators of major circuits (Silverstone, Goodwood, The British Automobile Racing Club, MotorSport Vision)
  • Tennis: £5m- Lawn Tennis Association
  • England Netball: £2m; Super League Netball: £2 million
  • Basketball: £4m -Basketball England: £1m; British Basketball League clubs (including Women’s British Basketball League clubs): £3m
  • Ice Hockey: £4m – Elite League
  • Badminton: £2m- Badminton England
  • Greyhound racing: £1m- Greyhound Board of Great Britain

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