The UK National Lottery has agreed to a partnership with GB Women’s Football ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
The partnership, overseen by the FA which is coordinating the GB team this summer, will see the lottery support a warm-up international on home soil before the team goes to Japan, as well as providing for training camps and the squad’s travel and logistics needs.
The lottery will ensure the British public gets a chance to see a GB team compete on home soil by supporting the staging of a home international immediately before the team departs for Tokyo.
The money for these initiatives will come from a National Lottery promotional fund, not money allocated for National Lottery Good Causes or by Camelot.
Women’s Football Director Sue Campbell said: “We would like to thank National Lottery players for their support for our Olympics campaign.
“The funding provided will make a huge difference to our preparations for the tournament. In sport, where even marginal gains can have a significant impact on a team’s chances of success, the National Lottery support really could make all the difference. We are very grateful for the generosity of everyone whose contributions have made this possible.”
As part of the partnership, the National Lottery will be acknowledged in a variety of ways, have access to a range of content opportunities and the lottery’s players will benefit from tickets to events and unique opportunities with the GB Women’s football team.
The lottery’s players have played a role in supporting Olympic and Paralympic athletes since the 1996 Games.
Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston stated: “The National Lottery and our elite sporting success go hand in hand – both are part of a great British success story that is both admired and envied around the world.
“I’m delighted that the National Lottery is providing further support to give the GB Women’s Football team a strong opportunity for medal success in Tokyo this summer.”
Nigel Railton, CEO of National Lottery operator Camelot, added: “Every day, the National Lottery and its players make a huge difference to communities across the UK – and have been doing so since 1994.
“This inventive partnership demonstrates how, by working together, we can have a real impact on a sport and boost the chances of gold in Tokyo. With the four nations coming together to form one team, this is something all National Lottery players can be proud to support and cheer on in the summer.”
At the end of last year, it was announced that the National Lottery will fund the Rugby Football Union, the Scottish Rugby Union and the Welsh Rugby Union to ensure they can field GB Sevens teams for the 2021 season ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.
