Each day my kids ride to and from school. 10 km a day. 50 km in a week. Approx 2,400km of cycling per year.
Each year British Cycling receives just over £24 million pounds in funding from UK Sport.
By not using a car to get to school my kids save an estimated 0.8 tonnes of C02 per year. The average person in the EU generates 8.4 tonnes of C02 per year.
UK sports mission is to reach, inspire and unite the nation.
The reason my kids can’t ride from one side of Cardiff to the other using a cycle path. Is because as a nation we have decided to invest our money in the hope of winning.
Government, UK Sport, and British Cycling point to a balanced investment between participation and performance. I tell my kids to focus on one thing at a time.
As parents, we trust the process and accept the outcome. We can influence it but we can’t control it.
UK Sport’s mission informs a narrative that drives the process. In an attempt to control the outcome British Cycling receives £24 million a year, while Badminton, Climbing, and Karate each get less than a million pounds.
Each day my kids inspire me, their friends, and their community. Every 4 years UK Sport hopes that someone will inspire everyone.
Cycle paths, safe roads, and cycle-friendly facilities are necessary. Since they make it possible to create active, healthy, and curious kids. Kids who can then dream the impossible.
UK Sport underfunds the necessary to fund the impossible.
Which would inspire you to be more active, healthy, and curious? A nation connected through a cycling network. Or a performance system that creates periodic winners.