APAs are administered by UK Sport. APAs are a National Lottery-funded grant aimed to enable athletes to pursue medal success in the Olympic or Paralympic Games and in other major championship events.
APA funding is designed to allow athletes to fully engage with their high-performance programmes and meet the demands associated with progression towards the Olympic and Paralympic podium. APAs are not designed to support athletes that could be considered professional – ie: athletes that have secured an income via professional or semi-professional contract, through prize money, endorsement, or related income streams that enable them to operate independently. APAs are therefore subject to a financial needs assessment.
An athlete’s (or Performance Support Personnel’s) eligibility to receive an APA is subject to them meeting, and continuing to meet, the criteria set out in the UK Sport Eligibility Policy. Podium APAs (A+, A and B level, the highest amount of funding) are designed to support athletes whose profile indicates a strong prospect of achieving/contributing to a medal at the Olympic or Paralympic Games within the cycle and who are already achieving/contributing to international results within the medal zone.
The ‘Paris Potential’ award is provided to support athletes that have been in receipt of a Podium level award, do not meet the competition outcome standards to retain an A or B award, yet remain a strong medal prospect for Paris.
Podium Potential APAs (C and D level) are designed to support athletes who have been identified and confirmed as having the potential to bridge the gap to Olympic and Paralympic medal success and have made the commitment to pursue this goal.
Entry Level APAs are designed to support athletes in their first 1-2 years of inclusion in high-performance programmes, to provide a period through which the potential of the athlete is explored and confirmed.
Athletes in receipt of APA funding will remain eligible to access their full APA (subject to means testing) for the duration of their pregnancy. This will be at their APA level at the time of becoming pregnant and for up to nine months post-childbirth.
Transitional funding (ie: funding once an athlete has left their programme) is offered at the current level for 1-3 months depending on how long an athlete has continuously been on their programme. This additional transitional funding is provided as follows:
Each NGB will be asked to submit their athlete nominations on the UK Sport Athlete Nominations Portal. UK Sport will review the nominated athletes and will either accept or challenge these nominations. If agreed (and after the sport has communicated the outcome of selection to the athlete), the athlete will be contacted directly by UK Sport to initiate a process after which an APA offer is made. As a guiding principle, UK Sport prefer to see a commitment to 12-month APAs following the selection of an athlete.
Athlete Financial Need Assessment Means testing is applied to all APA awards to ensure UK Sport only targets resources where there is evidence of financial need.
Athletes aged between 16 and 18 years of age and vulnerable adults can choose whether their APA is paid into their own bank account or to a suitable nominated individual (eg: a parent or guardian). Where this is the case the APA documentation (Income Assessment Form and Terms & Conditions) must be completed and accepted by the parent or guardian on their behalf. Athletes under 16 years of age must have their APA paid to their parent or guardian.
It can get a little tricky keeping up with all the acronyms in high-performance sport. Keep track of them all below.
AMS – Athlete Medical Scheme
Medical insurance scheme which covers the costs of healthcare for funded athletes who are members of Olympic and Paralympic sports’ World Class Programmes.
APA – Athlete Performance Award
National Lottery-funded grant aimed to enable athletes to pursue medal success in the Olympic or Paralympic Games and in other major championship events.
BEAA – British Elite Athlete Association
The independent athlete representative body, providing support, representation, and community. Responsible for giving you confidential guidance and ensuring you’re represented in high-performance system decisions.
BOA – British Olympic Association
National Olympic Committee for the United Kingdom.
BPA – British Paralympic Association
National Paralympic Committee for the United Kingdom.
CMO – Chief Medical Officer
Medical professional to deal with all medical sporting needs.
HPS – High Performance System
All the organisations and funding systems in place to support Olympic and Paralympics sport in the UK.
IF – International Federation
IFs establish the rules that govern their sport and ensure they are applied. They are responsible for the technical aspects of their sport at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
IOC – International Olympic Committee
Serves as the overarching governing body of the Olympic Games and the leader of the Olympic Movement.
NGB – National Governing Body
An organisation that governs and administers a sport on a national basis.
NOC – National Olympic Committee
Is the British Olympic and Paralympic decision and policy making body.
PAA – Performance Athlete Agreement
Sets out requirements, expectations, and obligations of athletes and their National Governing Body on all matters relating to participation in the World Class Performance Programme.
PD – Performance Director
Closely monitor core aspects of the programme such as training and competition activity, delivery of athlete support, and development of team culture and the daily training environment.
PDA – Personal Development Award
Financial award to support WCP athletes, continue to develop as a person as well as a performer while on the WCP.
PL – Performance Lifestyle
Every funded current and transitioning athlete on the WCP is entitled to receive Performance Lifestyle support – a practitioner that provides holistic support to athletes.
PSP – Performance Support Personal
All practitioners that work within the WCP or high-performance system.
S&C – Strength and Conditioning
Coach who plans, delivers, and reviews the physical and physiological preparation of athletes aligned to specific sports performance outcomes.
SRUK – Sport Resolutions UK
Independent, not-for-profit, dispute resolution service for sport. It operates globally and offers arbitration, mediation, tribunal, investigation services among others.
TMA – Team Membership Agreement or Athlete Agreement
Sets out requirements, expectations, and obligations of athletes and their National Governing Body.
UKSI– UK Sports Institute
The largest single provider of science, medicine, technology, data, and engineering services within the sport sector to Olympic and Paralympic sports in the UK.
WCP – World Class Programme
Multi-agency and multi-disciplinary support for athletes in Olympic and Paralympic sports.
The Athlete Medical Scheme (AMS) is a medical insurance scheme which covers the costs of healthcare for funded athletes who are members of Olympic and Paralympic sports’ World Class Programmes.
National Governing Bodies – funded or unfunded – may also purchase places on the AMS at a cost agreed by UK Sport to provide medical cover to athletes not on a World Class Programme.
The aim of the AMS is to drive an efficient and effective medical scheme to develop athlete health and wellbeing. UK Sport pays an annual premium to cover the costs of claims and, subject to approval and conditions of cover, the athlete receives healthcare. It is a free service to athletes and no costs are recharged to their governing bodies.
When your funding comes to an end you are covered for three months for existing concerns as part of your transition support.
FAQs below or you can contact the BEAA's support team for more information.
Cover is usually provided by Bupa.
Athletes should have access to cover through their team doctor or physio. Any communication that BUPA have will go directly to you, so ensure your medical staff at your sport are up to date with the latest information.
You will be given a booklet in your welcome pack that is your Bupa membership guide. The typical cover is for muscles, bones and joints as well as mental health. Your programme medical staff will be able to provide further details.
Cover for pre-existing conditions lasts for three months after you have left the World Class Programme. No new injuries can be covered in this time.
Non-sporting medical issues can be covered if they have an effect directly on your sporting training or performance.