At the elite level, sport is not just fiercely competitive, it is a highly sophisticated science where the way athletes train, the equipment they use and their daily diet can all make the hair's breadth of difference between a podium finish and the also-rans.

World Class performers need World Class support, so sports use World Class Performance Programme money to fund:

• World Class Coaches
• Sports science and medicine back-up
• Warm-weather and acclimatisation training
• International competition programmes (including travel and accommodation)
• Athlete development programmes
• Training facilities
• Performance Directors to bring it all together.

Although sports' World Class Performance Programmes cover time periods of between 4 and 8 years to allow for long-term planning, they are reviewed annually to ensure that progress towards targets is being maintained and that value for money is being delivered.

Elite athletes make many sacrifices in their quest to represent their country at the highest levels. In recognition of this fact, Athlete Personal Awards are paid to athletes on sports' World Class Performance Programmes. These awards are not salaries but a contribution to ensure that athletes can train and perform to the highest levels and, if they wish, work more flexibly, or indeed train full-time to ensure that as much time as necessary is dedicated towards training and competing. The awards are a contribution towards basic living costs, personal training and sports equipment costs. Athletes may also apply for a contribution towards education costs.

Contributions are calculated on the basis of personal circumstances and according to the athlete's performance level and world ranking. These awards are seldom enough to provide a sole income, however, they provide substantial help towards giving athletes the flexibility they need to concentrate on their sport.

Source UKSport web site – August 2003

The BJA’s World Class Performance Plan (WCPP) provides a comprehensive preparation programme for elite British Judoka. The WCPP was approved by UKSport in February 1999 for a period of six years to 2004.

British Judo Performance Programme Players