Several sports have been singled out by UK Sport committee members as those unlikely to bring medals in the 2016 Rio Games and 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Among those sports being denied funding for future competitions on the global stage are weight lifting, water polo, basketball, and synchronized swimming. Additionally, the Paralympic sports wheelchair fencing, goalball and five-a-side football have received the same harrowing news.

Some £350m will be invested in sports supporting the best medal chances for Britain at both the Olympics and Paralympics. Sports who have been denied aid will fortunately have until March to submit an appeal. However, UK Sport chief executive Liz Nicholls has deemed these events “high-risk” in terms of investment and feels it unlikely the committee will reverse their decision.

UK Basketball was slated to miss out on funding last year as well, but the team won an appeal to receive additional support. The team was again met with disappointment to learn of their financial exclusion this year and cites a UK Sport bias against the team and the emerging sport itself for the decision.

While 19 sports will receive funding this year to help in training for the Olympic Games, Swimming and Badminton will receive funding reductions of 3% and 4% respectively when compared to alst year’s figures.

Three Olympic sports which had funding cut last year, handball, table tennis and wrestling, were again excluded from receiving funds from UK Sport during this year’s allocation.