The British Elite Athletes Association supported 71 athletes travelling to Paris with Team GB and ParalympicsGB since the Tokyo Games.
The support – which is independent and delivered in full confidence – included mental health and legal referrals, guidance on selection decisions and appeals, and assistance with leaving a funded programme. It can last anywhere from one day to several months.
Beyond the summer’s Olympians and Paralympians, one in eight members of the World Class Programme have accessed support so far in the Paris cycle.
The team has also provided an independent observer in 119 selection panels, adding another layer of transparency to the process, and delivered 19 workshops to athletes and staff, an initiative started in 2023 to promote understanding of the World Class Programme and selection decisions in particular.
Despite Paris preparation lasting for a year less than Tokyo, support for selected Olympians and Paralympians has grown, with 63 athletes supported before competing in the 2021 Summer Games.
Now, the BEAA is operating an extended support service for the duration of the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics, with every athlete selected by the British Olympic Association (BOA) and ParalympicsGB able to access independent advice and guidance for 16 hours a day.
The BEAA team are on-hand from 07-23:00 CEST, seven days a week, from July 22 to September 8.
Director of Operations Sarah Newton, who oversees the Athlete Support Team, said: “The team has worked tirelessly between Tokyo and Paris to help all our members with any issues they encounter, and I’m particularly proud to know they supported so many of our Summer Olympians and Paralympians. Having an independent service allows elite British athletes to overcome any concerns with expert assistance, and focus on their daily lives as well as competition. All our support remains available to all our members throughout the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, and I encourage athletes to reach out as and when they need to.”
Athletes, and staff wishing to make a referral, can reach out via:
