4th January 2008
Around 75 of Britain’s future Olympic hopefuls will get a unique insight into what it takes to become the best when the second National Talent Orientation Camp is staged in Loughborough.
Details of the four-day event have been confirmed by organisers, the Youth Sport Trust, with double Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes among the elite athletes who will be mentoring the 14-17 year olds.
Some of the country’s top young talent in five sports – canoeing, rowing, cycling, sailing and triathlon – will attend the camp at Loughborough University from 5th to 8th January 2008.
The National Talent Orientation Camp is for youngsters of school age who have been identified by their sport’s governing body as having the potential to make it as elite athletes.
For the first time, the camp will offer workshops on how schools can support their talented pupils during their development and also an opportunity for parents to get tips and advice on supporting their offspring.
For the athletes, the camp will combine high quality training sessions with workshops on ability and determination, keynote speeches on education and lifestyle planning, advice on drugs-free sport, a Higher Education Marketplace and the opportunity for them to ask a panel of elite performers questions around what it takes to become the best.
Members of the Armed Forces will also put the young athletes through their paces during a series of command tasks designed to build confidence, self-esteem and develop skills in leadership and teamwork.
Last year’s camp was hailed a huge success with almost four fifths (79%) of athletes saying their performance ranking in their sport has increased since attending.
Meanwhile, 97% were hungrier for success, 93% were more determined to achieve success and 91% were more confident in their ability to succeed.
Dame Kelly Holmes said: “The camp aims to give these young athletes a real insight into what life is like at an elite sporting level, so that we can prepare them for what it takes to become the best.”
“These young people are at an age where they are starting to make some really big decisions which will have a major impact on the rest of their lives, for example, am I good enough to forge a career in sport? Do I want it enough? How can I balance my sport with my education? Am I making the best use of my talent to reach my goals?”
“We will help answer these questions and challenge the youngsters to really think about their futures. Far from wanting to put them off a career in sport, we are showing them the opportunities available so that they are better-placed to make an informed decision about where they want to go in life.”
Steve Grainger, Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust, said: “The Youth Sport Trust was delighted with the success of the inaugural National Talent Orientation Camp and we are looking forward to helping to prepare more Olympic hopefuls for the many personal, sporting, academic and vocational challenges that lie ahead now and beyond 2012.
“We are committed to supporting national governing bodies of sport, schools and parents in their efforts to help our young athletes realise their potential and achieve their best as they prepare for life beyond school.”
The National Talent Orientation Camp is funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and is the pinnacle of the Gifted and Talented strand of the National School Sport Strategy.
It has been developed by the Youth Sport Trust in partnership with UK Sport and the national governing bodies (NGBs) of the five sports involved.
To see the full list of athletes taking part in the National Talent Orientation Camp, click here
To find out more about the camp please click here