Bronze medalist team of Spain celebrate during the medal ceremony of the Men's Kayak Four of the Canoeing Sprint competitions in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. | ALI HAIDER
Palma09/08/2024 09:25
Spain was easily the best team at the European Championships in Germany and they were rightful winners. However, Spain may be football champions but in other sports they are rather poor despite having the best training conditions in Europe. Spain will return from the Olympics in Paris with only a handful of medals unlike Britain, France and Germany who have secured a golden haul.
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The National Lottery has been used to contribute considerable funding across a whole range of sports in the UK. From the allocating committee there has been a hard-nosed focus on the sports with potential for medalling and they get extra input and push. Those that don’t, like basketball, for example, get less, or no NL funding at all. And success breeds interest and greater participation. Spain certainly has participation. 350 people did the Ronda Murada night run in Alcudia last week, including plenty of kids. But with limited funding it doesn’t get much beyond that level, certainly not in numbers. Triathlon is a good example. GB and Spain had equally good elite triathletes a few years back. GB have developed the next generation and have gone on to continued success. Spain? Focussed funding has fuelled Team GB’s success.