to wonder why some winter sports are funded?

[DDfollowed]

I love watching sport but I cannot work out why British athletes in minority sports are funded to compete. We spend millions sending a handful of people to the winter Olympics to finish in the teen positions and I genuinely can't work out why, the majority of children are not in a position to be inspired to become a winter sport athlete. Is it just funding a small number of people to live their dreams when it doesn't pay them enough (via prize or sponsorship) to support themselves? Would the money be better spent on getting more people active?

Maybe there's an opportunity waiting for an entrepreneur in Exeter or Bristol or some random place near a motorway/major road in the south west?

There is no reason that curling should not be available in ice rinks all over the country. The reason it remains popular in Scotland is that once upon a time, back when you were guaranteed cold winters, there were over 2000 curling rinks around the place so it remains in living memory that it was something that people did. Even where I live, there were three outdoor rinks within one mile of my house. But no curling takes place outside now (even when it is cold enough to freeze lochs, health and safety issues take precedent). It's all held indoors in rinks that are usually shared with other ice sports. Lobby your local rink to set aside an hour or two a week to allow curling.

I don't think the skeleton 6 million is very good value for money. We have no proper track/runs and there will never be mass participation. The UK would never be able to host any skeleton competition. I would imagine the vast majority of that money is spent on supporting athletes to train in foreign countries. And I don't see a benefit in that.

I think sailing is another one that shouldn't necessarily be funded either for the reasons you state @CaptainMerica. I also don't know how you've inferred that I said we shouldn't fund curling because it's mostly played in Scotland! I've agreed with a PP that it would be popular if more available as it's very inclusive.

@DDfollowed

I think sailing is another one that shouldn't necessarily be funded either for the reasons you state *@CaptainMerica*. I also don't know how you've inferred that I said we shouldn't fund curling because it's mostly played in Scotland! I've agreed with a PP that it would be popular if more available as it's very inclusive.

Sailing is available all over the country, on lakes, reservoirs and rivers. It's not just a coastal activity.

Not for that reason @ErrolTheDragon - it is an elitist activity regardless of where you do it. Not many people can sail as a hobby therefore it's reasonable to suggest that there are limited opportunities for Joe Bloggs to get to an elite level. Funding doesn't change that.

@DDfollowed

Not for that reason *@ErrolTheDragon* - it is an elitist activity regardless of where you do it. Not many people can sail as a hobby therefore it's reasonable to suggest that there are limited opportunities for Joe Bloggs to get to an elite level. Funding doesn't change that.

The club I used to belong to up on the pennine moors couldn't by any stretch of the imagination be called 'elitist'.

If it's mostly lottery funding then we have a choice not to contribute if the distribution of the money you feel is not the best.

@DDfollowed

Not for that reason *@ErrolTheDragon* - it is an elitist activity regardless of where you do it. Not many people can sail as a hobby therefore it's reasonable to suggest that there are limited opportunities for Joe Bloggs to get to an elite level. Funding doesn't change that.

I would argue that pretty much all Olympic sports are elitist activities. In order to get to that level of most sports, you have to have some serious funding behind you for things like coaching, clothing/costumes, equipment. Often families will sacrifice income so one parent is always around to take children to and from training/competitions etc.

Well, yes, there's some truth in that. But that's why funding is necessary- facilities/kit sufficient for entry level, so many kids can try various sports (generally with volunteer instructors and helpers) and then subsequent targeted funding (larger sums per head but for far fewer people) to support the ones with the dedication and talent to go further.

I'm in the Se and there's a full size curling rink just down the road

@MorningStarling

There's more point in funding ski-jumping or bobsleigh than dozens of other sports (and "sports") like gymnastics or pole vaulting or the triple jump. At least winter sports are interesting, I mean any idiot can ride a bike round and round in circles or thrown an unnecessarily heavy object a short distance.

Generally, a sport isn't a sport unless people die doing it. Without risk and danger it's just a game.

I don't know if I'm misinterpreting your inverted commas around sport, but are you seriously suggesting gymnastics isn't a proper sport? You watched Simone Biles right?! Why does it make more sense to fund bobsleigh?