SPORT TO COME FIRST - THANKS TO GOVERNMENT CASH FOR STOKE SPORT

13 Sep 2004 04:00 AM

An emerging star in one of the newest Olympic sports is confident new Government funding will allow him to concentrate on becoming the best - not having to get part-time jobs to pay for his coaching.

Simon Blairs, a 21-year-old from Stoke-on-Trent, has been competing in the martial art of taekwondo since he was six. Now he is one of 800 young sportsmen and women to receive backing from the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS), getting underway this autumn.

The initiative is designed to make it easier for young people to continue to pursue their sporting careers after leaving school, instead of seeing raw talent go to waste.

TASS scholars, aged from 18 to 25 and in higher or further education, will receive sporting services worth 3,000 a year, including paying for the cost of coaching, sports science, physiotherapy and the use of training facilities. Bursaries, worth 1,000, will go to teenagers still in education or in first jobs.

Simon Blairs is a business studies student at Staffordshire University in his home city. He will be one of the scholars on the new scheme. This year he competed in the prestigious World University Championships and he's looking forward now to making his mark at an even higher level, in world and European events and possibly the Olympics in 2008.

But until now he has had to worry about getting a part-time job to make ends meet. "I have got my university work but I have also had to try to get some part-time employment to help with the cost of my training and coaching for taekwondo, as well as just ordinary living costs," he said. "The scheme will help a lot, so that hopefully I will not need to work as well and can concentrate on improving in my sport."

Simon is coached by his father, John, a former British champion. "Sometimes you can feel that any father is expecting so much of you, which can put pressure on you. But the good thing is that he is there 24 hours a day which is a great help."

To be eligible for the grants, young sportsmen and women have to be nominated by one of the 47 sports' governing bodies that are backing the scheme. Fifteen sports for disabled people are included and their athletes can be aged up to 35.

Tessa Jowell, Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport, said: "All too often young people take part in sport at school, but then give it up soon after they leave. It can be really hard to combine a budding sporting career with college work, or a first job. The TASS scheme is intended to tackle this sad loss of sporting talent."

The five times Olympic rowing champion, Sir Steve Redgrave, is acting as an Ambassador for the scheme. "TASS is an exciting idea which I hope will make a major contribution to producing the sporting talent we need to represent Britain in Beijing in 2008 and, I hope, in London four years later.," he said.

"I am pleased to be associated with it because I know how important it is to bridge the gap by ensuring that those who show exceptional ability at school go on to fulfill that potential as adult sportsmen and women."

Notes to Editors:

1. The sports that are eligible for TASS bursaries and scholarships are: Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Canoeing, Cricket, Cycling, Diving, Equestrianism, Golf, Gymnastics, Hockey, Judo, Modern Pentathlon, Netball, Orienteering, Rowing, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Sailing, Shooting, Skiing, Speed Skating, Swimming, Squash, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Triathlon, Water-skiing and Women's Football.

2. The TASS disability sports are: Archery, Athletics, Wheelchair Basketball, Boccia, Cycling, Equestrianism, Fencing, Judo, Disability Powerlifting, Wheelchair Rugby, Sailing, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis and Wheelchair Tennis.

3. TASS operates across England through nine regional consortia. Each comprises several higher and further education institutions that work together to provide a package of sporting services to TASS scholars and bursars in their region. There are over 90 educational establishments across England delivering sporting services on behalf of the programme.

4. Most stars of the future are known by their national governing bodies and already receive support to develop in their sport, and it is therefore these bodies that are in the best position to select athletes for a TASS award. TASS athletes are also identified from other sources, including nominations to governing bodies from schools, colleges, and universities. Contact details for the governing bodies and eligibility criteria can be found on the TASS website at www.tass.gov.uk

5. A TASS bursary or scholarship is made annually for the period 1 August to 31 July. Providing that the sport's governing body recommends an award, support can continue for more than one year. Funding is paid directly to the service provider and not to the TASS athlete.

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