Olympic hopes dashed by SnowsportGB collapse

The body has endured financial difficulties since the summer and has left the future of snow sport in the country in serious doubt.

The board, formerly known as the BSSF (British Ski and Snowboarding Federation), needed a 200,000 cash injection to remain in business after losing revenue from the private sector and having its 30,000 overdraft facility from the Royal Bank of Scotland plugged.

The participation of Team GB's 14 snow sport athletes has not been affected for the games, which commence on February 12 in Vancouver.

The British Olympic Association (BOA) has taken over the running of the athlete's preparation, along with UK Sport, the body who distribute government and lottery money.

Both have provided funding to cover the athletes training costs, although many have been left with thousands of pounds of personal debt. Chemmy Alcott, the skier, is believed to be 20,000 in arrears after funding her own training on the premise SnowSportGB would pay her back.

A statement from SnowsportGB said it had taken "the difficult decision to place the organisation into administration with immediate effect."

The BOA said: "The BOA will immediately put in place a contingency plan to ensure that the interests of the athletes are protected.

"The BOA will ensure that the athletes and their accredited coaches and support personnel have the resources and logistical support necessary to compete at their highest level in Vancouver".

Yorkshire's skeleton pair Kristan Bromley and Shelley Rudman, a silver medalist in the 2006 Turin Games, represent the region next week, as do Dan Money, Nicola Minichiello (bobsleigh) and Fiona Hughes (skiing).