Water sports warn of 'existential threat' to UK waters

Water athletics governing bodies pass that Great Britain will not beryllium capable to replicate their Olympic occurrence unless action is taken to amended nan cleanliness of Britain's waters.

At Paris 2024, 47% of Team GB's medals came from h2o sports.

More governing bodies person joined nan run group, formed successful April and known arsenic nan Clean Water Sports Alliance, to tackle h2o pollution.

"Those h2o sports that trust connected our rivers, canals, lakes and seas for enjoyment, to train and to compete, look an existential threat from h2o pollution," says Ben Seal, caput of entree and situation astatine Paddle UK, nan governing assemblage for canoeing, kayaking and different paddlesports.

"We consequence jeopardising nan enjoyment of millions of recreational h2o lovers and our early world success."

Surfing England, British Kitesport, British Sub-Aqua Club and nan British Dragon Boat Racing Association person joined nan run group, which already included British Rowing, British Triathlon and Swim England, among others.

They opportunity 18% of medals won astatine Paris 2024 were won by athletes who train outdoors successful rivers, canals, lakes and unfastened h2o and they purpose to return action to thief amended nan wellness of UK waters by 2030.

Phil Horton, situation and sustainability head astatine nan Royal Yachting Association, said: "It's awesome to spot nan practice successful nan Alliance turn pinch nan summation of 4 caller sports.

"This demonstrates nan scope of activities being impacted by contamination and h2o contamination."

Ben Powis, main executive of Surfing England, said: "As surfers, we person a heavy relationship pinch nan water and our coastline upon which our athletics and our manner is dependant.

"We are custodians of this delicate situation and action is needed to reside nan pollution, including nan dumping of sewage that's contaminating our coastal waters and each excessively often reddish flagging our beaches."

Earlier this period it was announced that water institution bosses could beryllium banned from receiving bonuses and moreover sent to situation nether caller authorities government to combat pollution.

The run group opportunity it welcomes nan measure and looks "forward to ongoing discussions... to guarantee that plans for nan manufacture meet nan demands of their members for safe, cleanable environments wherever they tin bask being on, successful aliases nether nan water."