Government releases funding to help more athletes qualify for Tokyo 2020

• ‘Aspiration fund’ totalling £3m set up by the government
• Paralympic sports such as wheelchair rugby also eligible

Olympic sports such as badminton, basketball and surfing, which do not receive elite funding by UK Sport, will be able to apply for up to £500,000 of financial help from a new “aspiration fund” set up by the government.

Paralympic sports, such as wheelchair rugby and goal ball, will also be eligible for the scheme, which is designed to help athletes from more sports to qualify for Tokyo 2020 and beyond.