Britain increases Olympic funding

Britain is pumping more money into its Olympics sport programs in a bid to win more medals in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 than the record number it claimed at home in London this year.

Britain will invest STG276 million ($A427 million) - an increase of five per cent - to meet its target of winning 66 medals in Brazil, one more than in London.

"We want to be the first nation in recent history to be more successful in both the Olympics and Paralympics, post-hosting," said Liz Nicholl, chief executive of UK Sport, the body that distributes government and National Lottery funds to Olympics sports.

Roared on by passionate home crowds, Britain finished third in gold medals in London with 29, behind the United States and China. Britain finished fourth in the overall medal count with 65, behind the US, China and Russia.

Cycling produced Britain's most medals in London with 12, followed by rowing with nine.

UK Sport has not yet produced a breakdown of medal projections by sport for Rio.

British swimming, which performed below expectations in London, had its Olympic funding slashed by nearly STG4 million while four sports - basketball, handball, wrestling and table tennis - will receive no cash at all.

Rowing and cycling will receive at least STG30 million each in an attempt to maintain their supremacy. Boxing was the biggest winner, after being given STG4.25 million more than the 2009-13 cycle.

"We are investing more public money to support our elite athletes in the four years to Rio 2016 than for our home Games, which shows our desire to keep up the momentum from London," Sports Minister Hugh Robertson said.

Funding for Paralympic sports is up 43 per cent to STG70.2 million.

Overall Medal Count

Rank Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 United States 46 29 29 104
2 China 38 27 23 88
3 Great Britain 29 17 19 65
4 Russia 24 26 32 82
5 South Korea 13 8 7 28
6 Germany 11 19 14 44
7 France 11 11 12 34
15 New Zealand 6 2 5 13

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