British sport has too many hurdles

British businesses are not doing enough to support sports stars desperate to find money to enable them to compete, according to a study commissioned by accountant Levy Gee.

The research, published in the report, ‘A Hurdle Too Far’, reveals that just one in 20 small businesses sponsor an athlete. Yet one in three is happy to spend more than #5,000 a year on corporate entertaining.

The cash crisis is threatening the development of Britain’s sports-stars, such as Denise Lewis above, despite lottery funding.

Levy Gee is also involved in the Going for Gold scheme, which matches sportspeople with potential sponsors. The scheme is approved by the British Olympic Association. For a small sum, businesses can help aspiring athletes and benefit by being associated with world-class success.

‘Money worries mean many athletes are running around in a vicious circle, chasing cash rather than finding sporting success. It’s affecting our sporting performance in the eyes of the world,’ said Catriona Russell, director of Going for Gold at Levy Gee.