Several winter sports are set to receive a combined investment of £443,200 to help with final preparations for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia in 2014.

The announcement was made by UK Sport following its annual review of its investment in winter sports. The funding is being used to help teams most likely to win medals at the 2014 games and has been targeted at those sports with the best chances of doing so. The sports to receive extra funding include bobsleigh, skiing, snowboarding, and para alpine skiing.

Sports Minister Hugh Robertson said that UK Sport was looking to build on the successes of London 2012.

"We are setting ambitious targets with our sports as we want to ensure that our athletes are the best prepared in the world," said Robertson. "The boost for winter sports will also help us look to better Team GB and Paralympic GB's performance at the last games in Vancouver when they go to Sochi next year."

Team GB will be looking to better its Vancouver 2010 performance when it won a single gold medal with Amy Williams winning the skeleton event.