After many months of publicised financial difficulties, the British Ski and Snowboard Federation trading as Snowsport GB announced today that it had gone into administration.

With the Olympics just a week away, Snowsport GB stated that this would not affect Team GB’s 14 ski and snowboard athletes.

In an official statement released on Friday 5th February, Snowsport GB confirmed that they had made the ‘difficult decision to place the organisation into administration with immediate effect.’ Administrators from BDO have been put in place to begin the process.

It’s of little surprise to ski and snowboard enthusiasts that have been following Team GB’s preparations for Vancouver 2010. Many of Britain’s winter sports stars have publicly bemoaned the lack of funding, including medal hopefuls Ed Drake and Chemmy Alcott.

We documented a funding problem back in August in our British Olympic Ski Funds Go Downhill… Again article. At the time, Snowsport GB were in £300,000 of debt and many staff were facing long delays in being paid. And so, today’s announcement is far from unexpected.

As a result of the administration, the British Olympic Association will take control of the Winter Olympics arrangements for our 14 athletes. They have also announced that a contingency plan was in place, should Snowsport GB fall into administration. This should ensure that the Team GB athletes and staff are supported suitably over the next few weeks at such a critical time.

Good luck to all 14 athletes from Team GB at Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.