Friday 10 December 1999

sportscotland investment in the development of young sporting talent hit the £1m mark today with the announcement of the latest round of awards to be made through its Lottery Fund’s Junior Groups Programme.

In an initiative aimed at creating the sports stars of the future, young athletes competing in seven sports are set to benefit from awards totalling over £230,000.  These include:

• £40,000 to the Scottish Amateur Swimming Association to develop the National Squad structure.  This will involve the enhanced training of the  National District Squads, National Youth Squad and Junior Elite Squad and will focus on training and education weekends, training camps and increased international competition.
• £40,000 to the Scottish Football Association to help the under 16 Youth team in its preparations for the European Championships qualifying tournament in March 2000.  The programme will consist of six training camps and six international friendly matches, as well as access to top coaches and support services.
• Over £36,000 to the Scottish Cyclists’ Union to fund their Junior and Espoir Development Group.  The award will help to pay for a competitive programme for track riders at UK age group championships, as well as extensive training and competition for road, mountain bike and track riders.

The Junior Groups Programme helps governing bodies of sport and, in the case of regional groups, local authorities, to develop the potential of young athletes competing at the very top level of their sport.  Costs covered include items such as travel and accommodation, coaching fees and facility and equipment hire.

Many of the organisations receiving awards in this round are in their second and third years of funding, and the results have already been seen in terms of improved performances.  The Scottish Cyclists’ Union have achieved wins in the Senior British Downhill Series and the women’s Expert Cross Country Series, while three of last year’s junior elite swimmers have progressed to the Lottery Fund’s Talented Athlete Programme.

Alastair Dempster, Chairman of sportscotland, said:  “Quality coaching, sports science support and access to international competition are all acknowledged as being necessary for athletes to succeed at the very top level.

“The Junior Groups Programme makes awards to help organisations meet the costs of providing this essential support, thus helping to develop potential in young athletes.

“National sporting success at international level is dependent on the early development of youth talent.”

• A full list of awards made this month under the Junior Groups Programme is below.
• To date, 36 awards totalling £1.2m have been made through the Junior Groups Programme.  Sports benefiting include football, cricket, cycling, orienteering and swimming.

Snowsport Scotland Project: Scottish Elite Junior Alpine Ski Training Programme
Award: £8,750

The programme will benefit five young Scottish athletes who are part of the full-time British Junior Squad.  They will undergo four stages of training including a pre-season training camp in Norway, the World Juniors Competition in Canada and fitness training and sports science support at Stirling University and Glenmore Lodge, Aviemore.

Scottish Gymnastics
Project: Junior National Squad Development Programme
Award: £40,000

The award will be used to import top coaches from around the world to work with squads in the four competitive disciplines of men’s and women’s artistic, rhythmic and sports acrobatics.  The gymnasts will undergo regular monitoring to measure rates of progress.

The Scottish Table Tennis Association
Project: STTA Junior Performance Project
Award: £39,965

The programmes involves 25 athletes between the ages of 10 and 18 who will have access to coaching including visiting overseas coaches, international competition and fitness training.

 Scottish Amateur Swimming Association
Project: Developing and Enhancing the National Squad Structure
Award: £40,000

The award will provide National District Squads, the National Youth Squad and junior elite squads with programmes including training and education weekends, training camps and exposure to high level international competition.