Team GB: the first nation set to win more medals after hosting the Olympics?
As sports enter the final year of preparation for Rio 2016, UK Sport has said the system remains on target to achieve its goal of becoming the first host nation to win both more medals at the next Olympics Games.
The high performance sports agency, which funds Team GB, has invested £347m of public money in summer Olympic and Paralympic sports and athletes for the Rio 2016 cycle.
British Olympic sports are aiming for between 39 and 71 medals at their targeted events in 2015, and so far diving, fencing, hockey and taekwondo have met their performance targets for the year.
The next few weeks and months will see Swimming, Athletics and Rowing contest their 2015 World Championships, giving a good indication of how some of Britain’s multi medal potential sports’ preparations for Rio 2016 are progressing.
British athletes have so far qualified 117 Olympic quota places for Rio, including both men’s and women’s hockey teams, four shooting spots and 10 sailing classes.
Simon Timson, UK Sport's director of performance, said: “History shows that our aspiration for Rio is a huge challenge, with sporting powerhouse nations like Australia and China experiencing more than 10 per cent drops in their Olympic medal haul following their home Games.
“However, we know from what sports are telling us that doing better than London is within scope and we are using this goal as the driving force to unite, focus and motivate the UK world class system to leave no stone unturned in preparation for Rio.
“This last year of the cycle is when all the innovative expertise in British sport comes to the fore; and while we don’t have the benefit of home advantage, I firmly believe the British Olympic and Paralympic Associations are the best in the world and will create the best possible environment for our athletes in Rio at Games time, giving us a competitive advantage.
“Our position will be clearer following this season’s results and we will set a specific medal target range, in consultation with the sports, just before Rio next year.”
Liz Nicholl, UK Sport Chief Executive, added: “Thanks to the unprecedented investment from our government and The National Lottery for the Rio cycle, the elite sport legacy of London 2012 is in very good shape.
“It has allowed us to continue to aspire to make the nation proud through our athletes’ performances, while building a stronger, more sustainable high performance system for future generations.
“Our athletes are doing more than ever to give back to their communities through more than 12,000 visits to schools and local community sports projects since London 2012 and our #EveryRoadtoRio events series is offering the public a fantastic array of opportunities to witness world class sport on their doorstep.”
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