Newyddion

13/01/2021 00:00, I Mewn Blog /

With a very busy 18 months ahead of athletes and their support teams, Welsh Athletics is pleased to announce that it will support a total of 44 Athletes during 2021. This is in addition to the 5 athletes that are being supported by British Athletics on the World Class / Futures Programme.

“Whilst every Major Championship for Athletics is scheduled to take place in the next 18 months it is as always, the Commonwealth Games that will open on the 28^th of July 2022 which is in the mind of all Welsh Athletes.  The Commonwealth Games is the only opportunity for a Welsh Athlete to wear a Welsh Vest on a Global Championship Stage.”

 

"The commonwealth games represents the only opportunity for welsh sports men and women to represent Wales on a global stage at a major championships, Birmingham  2022 will once again see the sport of athletics take centre stage, showing casing Welsh  athletes at the very highest level  representing wales."

 

"Welsh athletics are committed in supporting  athlete preparations as well as competition  opportunities."

 

"Once nominated our aim is to provide all athletes with the right environment to maximise  preparation building towards the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games."

Chris Jones, National Coach

A decision was taken by Welsh Athletics that unless there was a significant change in circumstances, and it was satisfied that athletes were still on the Commonwealth Games Pathway it would continue to support them despite the circumstances of 2020.  Even though 2020 was a challenging time for the sporting community a few athletes did perform and have been included on the Programme for 2021, Welsh Athletics is excited to have been able to extend this support.

When reviewing 2020 and looking at the best options to support athletes and their individual teams a decision has been made taken to revise the policy/funding pathway; with the emphasis on preparing a team for the Commonwealth Games 2022 the athletes on the programme will be formally reviewed on a quarterly basis, it is accepted that the programme will become more focused / targeted as we move closer to the Games.

In essence, the Welsh Athletics Funding Pathway is Commonwealth Games and Futures Pathway.

The Commonwealth Games Pathway is aimed at athletes who have achieved the CWG Nomination Performance Standard since 2019 or are athletes that have clearly demonstrated that they can close the Performance Gap to the Nomination Performance Standard.  This includes athletes that have already represented Great Britain.  This cohort of Athletes have been defined as Elite by Welsh Government and are able to continue training in approved/monitored Covid secure environments.  In addition, they have been granted permission to travel and compete in Elite Competitions by Welsh Government during Level 4 Lockdown Situations. 

We are also excited to be able to support a very talented cohort of younger athletes within our Welsh Athletics Futures Programme. These are athletes that have achieved our published Matrix Performance Level and could represent Wales at this or the 2026 Commonwealth Games. In addition to the support, we can offer this small cohort of future athletes, Welsh Government has granted a dispensation for these aspiring young athletes to be able to return training in an approved & monitored COVID19 secure environment once the Lockdown Level is reduced to Tier 3.

List of Athletes currently classed as 'Elite' [in receipt of Lottery Funding] and therefore Granted Dispensation to train in Tier 4:

“The importance for all athletes and coaches to be able to train is paramount to us and we continue to work closely with all sports in Wales, Sport Wales, and Welsh Government to allow training and competition to happen for all when it is safe and appropriate.”  

CEO -James Williams