Team Behind the Team Celebrate GB Success
Team Behind the Team Celebrate GB Success
by Rebecca Roberts 14.08.12
Celebrating the most successful medal haul for over a hundred years, the English Institute of Sport (EIS), who have worked with nearly 90% of Britains' Olympic medallists, reflect on a historic Olympic Games in London, whilst focusing on replicating success at the Paralympics in less than two weeks.
“I have been blown away by the venues, the vociferous support for the home team and, of course, the success of Team GB” says Nigel Walker, National Director at the English Institute of Sport (EIS).
“Team GB’s incredible performances have not come about by chance but as a result of an elite sport system in the UK which has been well funded, brilliantly led and populated by outstanding individuals right across the entire spectrum including athletes, coaches, administrators and sport science and medicine practitioners.
“It has not been easy at times and some difficult decisions have been made along the way but the system and those working in it have produced the goods, rising to challenge after challenge” he adds.
The EIS has worked with 83% of Gold medallists, 88% of Silver medallists and 95% of Bronze medallists in total across it's network of EIS High Performance Centres across the country - 88% of medallists in total.
Over the weekend, Prime Minister David Cameron, announced that the Government would extend Olympic funding up to Rio 2016.
“The Prime Minister’s announcement to guarantee Exchequer funding right the way through the next Olympic cycle is unprecedented and demonstrates the faith he has in the elite sport system and the individuals who work in it. UK Sport is now guaranteed the same level of funding during the Rio cycle as it had for the current one which means the NGBs will have similar sums to invest in our services over the next four years” says Walker.
“Since the Atlanta Games in 1996, where GB secured just one gold medal, finishing 36th in the medal table, to winning 29 gold medals out of 65 in total and finishing in 3rd place in 2012, it’s clear what a huge impact UK Sport and Lottery funding has had. The EIS was introduced in 2002 and we have helped strengthen the sporting system in place, whilst helping Team GB punch way above its head in the medal table by working closely with sports to apply sport science and medical expertise to improve performance” he adds.
Photography © Getty Images