20th November 2007
UK Athletics has confirmed the names of 234 athletes who will receive National Lottery funding during 2008 across all levels of the World Class Programme.
The Youth Sport Trust is delighted that a number of these athletes have been involved in some of its initiatives and would like to congratulate them on their success.
Former Beckwith Scholar and 100m sprinter Mark Lewis-Francis is included in the World Class Podium Athletes Squad.
Out of the World Class Development Athletes squad, names include former Beckwith scholar Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, Young Ambassador Chris Clarke, and UK School Games competitor and gold medallist two years running Ashlee Nelson.
Meanwhile, more than a dozen athletes who competed and medaled at this year’s UK School Games in Coventry, including; Abdi Ahmed, 3000m - Nathan Fox, Triple Jump – Sophie Hutchinson, Hammer – James McLean, 110m Hurdles – Liz Potter, 1500m – Sophie Upton, Pole Vault – and Laura Wightman, 1500m, have been selected in the World Class Talent Athletes squad.
Steve Grainger, Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust, said: “We would like to congratulate all the athletes who will receive National Lottery funding across all levels of the World Class Programme, particularly the ones we have been proud to support either as Beckwith Scholars, Young Ambassadors or competitors at the UK School Games.
“With the Olympic and Paralympic Games coming to London in 2012 and Glasgow hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2014, the Youth Sport Trust is fully committed to supporting our talented young athletes. We are working closely with the various National Governing Bodies of Sport to help develop their competitive sport structures, while also supporting individual athletes as they manage their schooling and education alongside the demands of training and competition.”
For the full list of athletes click here
How the Youth Sport Trust works with elite young athletes
Believe to Achieve with Kelly Holmes, formerly the Beckwith Scholarship scheme
The ‘Believe to Achieve with Kelly’ Scholarship Programme has seen Dame Kelly Holmes, the National School Sport Champion and double Olympic gold medallist, choose 80 young people from the sports of athletics, canoeing, cycling, fencing, gymnastics, ice dance, sailing, swimming, triathlon and rowing - including six disability athletes from swimming and one for athletics - to receive funding that goes towards the costs of their sport. The athletes also receive support and guidance from the Youth Sport Trust’s Sport Performance team.
Young Ambassadors
Each year until 2012, School Sport Partnerships across England will recruit two young people to take on the role of Young Ambassador for two years. In their first year, they work in their local communities championing sport and the ethos and values of the Olympic and Paralympic movement. In the second year they take on a mentoring role with the new Young Ambassador intake.
UK School Games
The UK School Games is a multi-sport event for the most talented young people in the country of school age. Athletes at the 2007 Games, held in Coventry, competed in Athletics, Badminton, Fencing, Gymnastics, Judo, Swimming, Table Tennis and Volleyball with disability events in Athletics, Swimming and Table Tennis. The four-day Games environment is designed to replicate the feel of major event such as the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.