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Five
judo players will benefit from a multi-million pound scheme designed
to produce gold for Britain at a 2012 Olympics in London have
been named. Along with over one hundred others, they will get
a package of financial aid to make their dreams - and the country’s
- come true.
Jean-Rene
Badrick, Sally Conway, Gemma Gibbons, David Groom, and Lee Shinkin
will each receive a 2012 grant worth either £5,000 or £10,000.
The
scholarships are designed to bridge the gap between school and
junior club programmes and existing support for elite athletes.
The money will be used by British Judo to provide access to high-quality
training facilities in the UK and overseas, coaching and access
to medical advice and sports psychologists.
Tessa
Jowell, Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport, has congratulated
the young athletes, “These young athletes are among the brightest
and the best of a new crop of sporting talent being nurtured in
Britain. Just as we passionately want the Olympics and Paralympics
to be staged here in 2012, so we want young people like these
to be given the best possible chance to challenge for medals.
Either way, we'll be ready,” she said.
The
support is available for young athletes aged from 10 upwards -
from summer and winter Olympic sports, as well as competitors
in the Paralympics. The scheme builds on the success of
the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme, which is intended to
help older competitors, at university or in first jobs.
Alan
Pascoe, Vice-Chairman of London 2012 said: “This is great news
for sport. Schemes like this are a great boost to our up and coming
young athletes and will give much needed support to turn them
into champions in 2012. This to me is what a London 2012 Games
is all about: a catalyst to make things happen, to encourage wider
participation in sport and to give more support and sporting facilities
for young people.”
Jean-Rene
Badrick and Sally Conway, two of the athletes who will receive
a 2012 scholarship
pic ©
BJA/Mike Varey
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