Game-changing support will be on offer for local aspiring Olympians over the next two years thanks to the Northern Inland Academy of Sport (NIAS) and non profit HealthWISE.
The two organisations announced the launch of the Active Champions Fund on Friday, August 2, sponsoring five $2000 scholarships for emerging young athletes; supporting their path to qualify for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Dual Paralympian Katie Kelly came along to show her support for the future sporting stars and shared how she felt empowered through sport after being declared legally blind. Just 18 months later, Kelly won Australia’s first gold medal in para-triathlon at the Rio Paralympics.
“Sport really is the gateway to elevate people, to improve inclusion and to achieve good health outcomes,” she said.
Drawing on her own experience with the barriers people with disability face, Kelly commended HealthWISE and NIAS for supporting country people to overcome obstacles to achieve in sport.
“We are excited to be part of this journey with NIAS and look forward to watching the next generation of young athletes reach their full potential,” HealthWISE CEO Fiona Strang said.
The local charity developed the Active Champions Fund as part of their gift fund, an initiative of the HealthWISE board which has backed a variety of community activities promoting health and wellbeing since 2018, including $25,000 in small grants to help local childcare centres establish kitchen gardens earlier this year.
“Physical activity is one of the best things people can do to improve their health. It can help reduce the chance of developing chronic diseases and reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety, enhancing thinking and learning skills,” Ms Strang said.
She says that NIAS helps young athletes overcome the disadvantages of living rurally by ensuring access to quality coaching on a regular basis. The Active Champions Fund will support scholarship recipients with travel and accommodation to access this coaching.
“The Northern Inland Academy of Sport is delighted to be partnering with an organisation with such synergy,” NIAS chief executive officer Shona Eichorn said.
“With a shared approach to supporting a healthier community and investing in the region’s sporting talent, NIAS looks forward to a lengthy future with HealthWISE.”
Ms Eichorn said the timing of the announcement was not by chance, held on the Australian Olympic Committee’s designated Green & Gold Day, which encourages Australians to wear the iconic colours in support of Olympians participating in the Paris Olympics.
One of these Olympians is a NIAS graduate, Hockeyroo Alice Arnott, who was also the 2014 NIAS Athlete of the Year.
“There are many families in our region with talented athletes like Alice, but for many, the financial commitment is prohibitive,” Ms Eichorn explained.
“Investment such as that offered through this HealthWISE-NIAS partnership will go a long way to making a real difference to those aspiring Olympians from the Northern Inland region. NIAS is very grateful for the support of HealthWISE and its staff.”
Athletes accepted into the NIAS program will be able to apply for the Active Champions Fund on the HealthWISE website from August 16.
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