13/05/2004

Scholarships set to help UK's future sports stars

The first ever scheme aimed at giving young talented sports people a scholarship to help their development was launched today by Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell.

The Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS), worth £6 million over its initial two-year lifespan, will give a variety of scholarships and bursaries to promising 16-25 year old sports stars. These will be used to get them top-quality coaching and physiotherapy, as well as access to the best facilities in their part of the country.

Around 1,000 young people, across around 50 different sports, should benefit from TASS in its first year.

Ms Jowell met with nine young people who will be first to receive a scholarship or bursary at a reception at Number 10 Downing Street to launch the scheme.

The Minister said: "High costs can be a reason for young people with potential not being able to realise their possibilities in sport. TASS scholarships will help meet the additional costs of coaching, travel and physiotherapy, all of which are necessary to achieve at a high level.

"These awards will help harness the talent that we have amongst the young in this country - and hopefully propel them on to the highest level."

She added: "We're not just planning how to host the Olympics in 2012 in London - we're pushing to get British athletes on the podium in London."

TASS scholarships will be awarded in September to 19 to 25 year old sportspeople to help them develop in their sport and also to continue with their academic studies. Bursaries will be awarded earlier in the summer to 16 and 19 years olds who are undertaking further education courses or have left education to take up employment.

Exchequer funding of £3 million annually has been allocated to deliver this programme - to which additional funding will be added through private sector fundraising to help those young sportspeople most in need.

(gmcg)

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