The UK Government will give the UK racing industry £21 million in loan support to help ease the financial fallout of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Other spectator sport industries to benefit from this latest round of financial aid from the Sport Winter Survival Package are the rugby league, speedway and drag racing and football clubs from the top six tiers of the National League system. In November, it was announced that British racing would receive £40 million in government loans as part of the £300 million Sport Winter Survival Package.
“The funding will ensure essential race-day integrity costs and related health and safety expenditure are safeguarded, enabling the Levy Board to continue their programme of financial support and funding into the industry which has suffered considerably as a result of Covid-19,” the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport England said.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said, “We promised to stand by and protect our major spectator sports when we had to postpone fans returning. Through our sport survival package and existing business support schemes, we have helped hundreds of clubs to survive this difficult winter period.
“As the turnstiles begin to open over the coming weeks, players, staff and fans across the country can now look forward to a full return to action with confidence.”
Chair of the Independent Levy Board Sir Ian Cheshire added, “Following the Government's announcement that a further £300m of sport survival funding has been made available, the Independent Board will now focus on getting this funding to those summer spectator sports in most urgent need.”
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