Funding for the future of Scottish sport

Wednesday 19 January 2000

Twenty eight Scottish sportsmen and women are Lottery ‘winners’ today, following an announcement of Talented Athlete Programme awards totalling over £140,000 by sportscotland Lottery Fund.

Athletes from all over Scotland representing sports including athletics, equestrian, sailing, tennis, triathlon and weightlifting will receive funding from sportscotland to help them in their pursuit of sporting success.

The money will be used towards costs such as equipment, training, coaching, travel to and from competitions, sports medicine and sports science.  In certain cases, where the athlete is performing at the very highest level, subsistence costs will be covered, including time taken off work in order to prepare fully for competition.

Athletes eligible to apply for funding under this programme must be able to represent Scotland or the UK at junior or senior level, committed to a specific sport and have met the appropriate standards of performance.

Since the programme was introduced in 1997, some 600 Scottish athletes in around 40 different sports have received support through the Lottery Fund.  Awards are made to different sports each month to suit the various sports’ seasons and training schedules.

Alastair Dempster, Chairman of sportscotland, said:  “Before the introduction of the National Lottery, athletes had to rely on family support or cover the costs themselves in order to represent their country.

“Now, through the Talented Athlete Programme, direct support can be given to Scottish athletes to help them compete on a more even footing with the rest of the world.

“As well as supporting our top athletes, the Lottery Fund also funds major events, coaching, school and youth sport and sports facilities and equipment.  Over £100 million has been invested in Scottish sport since the first awards were made back in 1995.”