LONDON — Eight British sports had their funding cut by at least a third Thursday for the 2012 London Olympics, with UK Sports blaming the reductions on the weak global economy.

The UK Sports cuts involved fencing, handball, shooting, table tennis, volleyball/beach volleyball, water polo, weightlifting and wrestling. Paralympic sports fencing, goalball, volleyball and women's wheelchair basketball also had their funding reduced.

A shortfall in private-sector spending also forced the cuts, UK Sports said. It added the reductions are in sports where Britain is unlikely to do well at the 2012 Olympics.

"It was vital that, having successfully targeted our medal prospects, we also maximized the chances of every sport for London 2012 within our limited resources," UK Sport chairwoman Sue Campbell said.