Greyhound racing is to receive £1m in emergency Covid relief from the Government in an announcement made earlier today.
The cash was raised following representations by GBGB. While the offer will be welcome, the amount may raise some eyebrows, particularly compared to the £40m being awarded to horse racing, while other sports such as basketball, ice hockey and netball each received £4m. Badminton receives £2m!
Commenting on the announcement by Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston today of the government’s ‘Winter Survival Package’ to help major spectator sports, Mark Bird, Managing Director of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, said:
“We are pleased that the government has partially recognised the economic hardship that Covid-19 has caused our sport. Whilst it only represents a small proportion of the overall losses caused by the impact of the lockdowns, this funding will assist the sport in the very short term as we attempt to recover from the impact of the lockdowns.
“Greyhound racing provides substantial local employment and affordable entertainment and hospitality in many key communities in our country which are suffering greatly during the pandemic. But, in addition, our industry supports the welfare needs of our greyhounds and faces significant costs to ensure that their care and welfare remains world class.
“Our industry has shown outstanding resolve throughout this difficult year, but we know that each of our stadia, trainers and owners continue to have significant concerns about their immediate futures and for their employees. Our ability to continue racing behind closed doors during this lockdown has been vital, but the loss of spectators at tracks continues to take a substantial toll on all areas of our sport, as does the temporary closure of betting shops.
“We know that there are considerable pressures on government to fund not only sports but also all aspects of the hospitality, tourism and entertainment sectors. We are therefore grateful that the DCMS has listened and understands the needs of our sport. We will continue to raise our concerns with ministers at DCMS and will be having further conversations in the coming days and weeks about how this provisional amount of £1million will be granted and how else government can support the sport and the communities we serve.”
