Referral of the proposed subsidy to Athletic Ventures LLP by UK Sport and the Greater London Authority
The Subsidy Advice Unit (SAU) has accepted a request for a report providing advice to UK Sport and the Greater London Authority (GLA) concerning its proposed subsidy to Athletic Ventures LLP (AV LLP).
Administrative timetable
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 2 July 2026 | SAU’s report to be published |
| 4 June 2026 | Deadline for receipt of any third-party submissions |
| 21 May 2026 | Beginning of reporting period |
Request from UK Sport and GLA
21 May 2026: The SAU has accepted a request for a report from UK Sport and GLA concerning the proposed subsidy to AV LLP. This request relates to a Subsidy of Particular Interest.
The SAU will prepare a report, which will provide an evaluation of UK Sport and GLA’s assessment of whether the subsidy complies with the subsidy control requirements (Assessment of Compliance). The SAU will complete its report within 30 working days.
Information about the subsidy provided by UK Sport and GLA
In 2025, the UK Government announced its intention to back a bid to bring the World Athletic Championships to London in 2029. In support of this bid, UK Sport and the Greater London Authority (GLA) are now proposing to provide grant funding of up to £43.3 million for financial years 2029 to 2030 and 2030 to 2031 to support the delivery of the World Athletics Championships, subject to a successful bid to the International Federation. The subsidy is intended to re-imburse necessary event delivery costs.
The event will look to create significant economic, social, legacy, profile and tourism benefits, and support the elite sporting system in the UK aligning to a series of organisational and public sector policy aims, including the strategic aims set out under UK Sport’s 2021 to 2031 Strategic Plan, the UK Sport’s Making Live Sport Matter strategic framework and the London: Sporting Capital 2023 to 2030 policy frameworks.
The beneficiary of the proposed subsidy is Athletic Ventures LLP. It has been selected through an appraisal of its value to the event in question, but also the wider benefits it provides to connected policy objectives.
Information for third parties
If you wish to comment on matters relevant to the SAU’s evaluation of the Assessment of Compliance concerning the proposed subsidy to Athletic Ventures LLP by UK Sport and the GLA, please send your comments on the date stipulated in the timetable above. For guidance on representations relevant to the Assessment of Compliance, see the section on reporting period and transparency in the Operation of the subsidy control functions of the Subsidy Advice Unit.
Please send your submissions to us at sau-worldathleticschampionships2026@cma.gov.uk, copying the public authority: legal@uksport.gov.uk.
Please also provide a contact address and explain in what capacity you are making the submission (for example, as an individual or a representative of a business or organisation).
Notes to third parties wishing to make a submission
The SAU will only take your submission into account if it can be shared with UK Sport and GLA. The SAU will send a copy of your submission to UK Sport and GLA together with its report. This is to allow the public authority to take account of the submission in its decision as to whether to grant or modify the subsidy or its assessment. We therefore ask that you provide express consent for your full and unredacted submission to be shared. We also encourage you to share your submission directly with UK Sport and GLA using the email address provided above.
The SAU may use the information you provide in its published report. Therefore, you should indicate in your submission whether any specified parts of it are commercially confidential. If the SAU wishes to refer in its published report to material identified as confidential, it will contact you in advance.
For further details on confidentiality of third party submissions, see identifying confidential information in the Operation of the subsidy control functions of the Subsidy Advice Unit.
Contacts
- SAU project team: sau-worldathleticschampionships2026@cma.gov.uk
For media enquiries, contact the CMA press office.
- Telephone numbers
-
- Phone: 020 3738 6460
- Out of hours: 020 3738 6878
Opening hours
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm. On bank holidays, use our out of hours number.