Athletics secures Tier 1 status and more funding towards Tokyo

Athletics New Zealand has received good news from High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ) heading into the next Olympic Cycle.

Athletics has moved up the ladder to reach Tier 1 status, joining Cycling, Rowing and Yachting to secure a minimum level of funding for the next four years through to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Base annual funding increases from the current $2.05 million (topped up by a one-off $0.175m in 2015/16) to $2.60 million and funding for the Para-Athletics programme takes a big jump from $85,000 to $500,000 each year.

The increased funding comes on the heels of outstanding performances by the World Indoor Championships team and the Olympic and Paralympic teams in Rio, winning a total of 16 medals at the three events. It also recognises that Athletics NZ has demonstrated strong progress around future talent and performance systems, and has quality High Performance staff underpinning their programmes towards Tokyo.

Athletics New Zealand received the highest increase in investment in the round, announced by HPSNZ Chief Executive Alex Baumann today.

Athletics NZ Chief Executive Linda Hamersley declared the announcement very satisfying and believes it puts the sport in a good position with four years to Tokyo.

"The increased investment demonstrates the confidence that HPSNZ has in our programme. It is also testament to the hard work and progress our programme coaches, staff and athletes have made over the last four years. It was pleasing to receive the news of both the increased investment and the elevation to Tier 1 from HPSNZ. We were confident we achieved the results for our programme to receive the increased funding that is required to sustain our performances from Rio and grow towards an outstanding result in Tokyo. We look forward to continuing our close working relationships with HPSNZ and Paralympics NZ that has helped enable our success in Rio", said Hamersley.

The sports High Performance Manager Scott Goodman is also pleased with the outcome of the latest review.

"The increased support is a fair reflection of the gains we have made within the athletics programme through the commitment of our athletes, coaches and High Performance staff at Athletics New Zealand", Goodman said.

- This story has been automatically published using a media release from Athletics New Zealand