Olympic sports get funding boost

(GETTY IMAGES)

Six summer Olympic sports have received cash increases ahead of the London 2012 Games but winter sports such as figure skating, skiing and snowboarding have had their funding reduced to zero, UK Sport have announced.

An overall increase of £2.6m is being shared between the sports where a chance of winning extra medals in London has been identified – rowing, gymnastics, hockey, boxing (mainly women's), taekwondo and canoeing.

Hockey is the big winner receiving an extra £1.1m for both the men's and women's team. The money should enable all the players to concentrate on the sport full-time – personal awards average £26,000 a year. One summer sport, badminton, has had funding cut by £500,000.