Sports travel fund to support isles athletes
UP TO eight Shetland athletes are set to benefit from a new fund designed to support islanders travelling to competitions on the Scottish mainland.
A total of £45,000 will be given out during a three-year pilot period to athletes in Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles to help mitigate the cost of travelling south for events.
The money is being made available thanks to the Scottish Government, National Lottery, sportscotland and the local authorities.
Up to eight people from each council area will be able to receive up to £1,500 over the three years.
Shetland MSP Tavish Scott, who had been pressing for a sports travel fund, said he was “very pleased” to hear the news.
Sports minister Aileen Campbell visited Shetland to formally announce the scheme today (2 February) at the Clickimin Leisure Complex in Lerwick.
She met local swimmers, including Kayla Manson who said the money would help Shetland (Hurricanes) ACSC “get away more often for competitions which would give us more experience in competing”.
The fund will open in February and each council will identify athletes for support following an application and selection process.
Over the past five years, over 75 athletes, 15 coaches and 15 service providers have benefitted from bespoke, locally delivered training to ensure that island athletes are able to train in a high performance environment – but travel costs have always been a barrier.
“I’ve met some of those young athletes today and it’s been great to hear how they’ll benefit from the scheme – which will complement the extensive services already available locally to performance development athletes through the sportscotland Institute of Sport, as well as demonstrating the Scottish Government’s commitment to help meet the unique needs of Scotland’s islands,” Campbell said.
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She added that the announcement came after a “lot of discussion and deep consideration” about what can be done to help athletes in the isles.
Scott said: “I want to thank all the sports clubs and people who have made a powerful case for this scheme.
“It is right that the sports minister is in Shetland to say how the scheme will operate. Our athletes face not just the cost but time away on the Scottish mainland.
“I trust the scheme will be used by many Shetlanders in the future, so that more people can follow Andrea Strachan, Lynda Flaws and Erraid Davies into Commonwealth Games competition.”
Shetland (Hurricanes) ACSC head coach Petur Petursson said more money for travel could mean younger athletes wouldn’t need as much time off school as they could fly more often.
Shetland Islands Council convener Malcolm Bell, who also attended Friday’s announcement event, said isles athletes are faced with “disadvantages” when it comes to competing regularly on the mainland.
“This will help redress the balance and should provide the incentive for them to achieve even greater things,” he said.
“We look forward to seeing more of Shetland’s sportspeople being able to compete on a national and international stage.”
Sportscotland chief executive Stewart Harris added that “our partners in Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Orkney and Shetland councils have shown great commitment to the athletes from their island communities, and, by combining our resources, we have been able to give those athletes the support they need to deliver on the world stage.”
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