The Jaguar Academy of Sport Announces its Inaugural Bursary Awards

AUTO CENTRAL – July 22, 2010: At a Ceremony today in London the Jaguar Academy of Sport presented 35 young athletes, representing the next generation of British sporting talent, with the Jaguar Academy of Sport Bursary Awards. The Bursary Fund is at the core of the Jaguar Academy of Sport, which aims to recognise, celebrate and inspire the best of British sporting talent and success. The 35 athletes were chosen after a rigourous selection process conducted by SportsAid, which administers the Bursary Fund on behalf of the Jaguar Academy, with the final decision being made by the Patrons and Ambassadors of the Jaguar Academy of Sport, some of the nation’s most successful sportsmen and women.

The 35 successful young athletes are aged between 14 and 24 and have been drawn from all over the country, representing 19 English counties, Scotland and Wales. They represent a total of 30 sporting disciplines all of which are Olympic and Paralympic sports.

The Jaguar Academy of Sport has been established with the intention of not just providing funding to the next generation, but also nurturing and inspiring them. As such the best performing of the 35 young athletes will be topped-up with extra funding and will be presented with a prestigious Award by the Patrons at the Jaguar Academy of Sports Awards in November. There will also be opportunities during the year for the young athletes to be mentored by the Patrons and Ambassadors.

The young athletes were presented with their cheques and certificates by John Johnson, Operations Director Jaguar UK, Tim Lawler Chief Executive of SportsAid and, representing the Patrons of the Jaguar Academy of Sport, by Gareth Edwards (CBE). The Ambassadors of the Jaguar Academy of Sport were represented by Colin Jackson (CBE), Jamie Baulch, David Roberts (CBE), Tasha Danvers and Martin Brundle. For the full list of Patrons and Ambassadors see notes to editors. Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham, The Chairman of the Jaguar Academy of Sport Advisory Board was also in attendance at the Ceremony.

The Jaguar Academy of Sport was launched in March 2010 and aims to recognise, celebrate and inspire the very best of British sporting talent and success. It will fulfill this aim through a Bursary Fund, which supports new British sporting talent, a prestigious annual Awards Ceremony, a unique club of the best of British sport which will be used to inspire the next generation and a vibrant website celebrating British sporting talent and achievement. (www.jaguaracademyofsport.co.uk)

Dame Kelly Holmes commented: “I am proud to be a Patron of the Jaguar Academy of Sport, it is a great initiative and I believe the bursary will give the athletes the recognition of their potential and the financial support, which can help them progress as well as an extra resource for their families. As part of the SportsAid alumni, I have myself seen the benefits of funding and know it can make a real difference. I look forward to working with the Jaguar Academy of Sport in the future and watching the recipients flourish.”

Geoff Cousins, Managing Director, Jaguar UK stated: “We are delighted to present the first of our Jaguar Academy of Sport Bursary Awards to these outstanding young athletes. The Jaguar Academy of Sport and the Bursary Fund is a long-term commitment by Jaguar to contribute to the development of the next generation of British sporting talent. I would like to congratulate each and every one of the winners. Nothing would give us greater pleasure than to see them go on to win at the highest level in their respective sports for our country.”

Tim Lawler, Chief Executive, SportsAid: “It is a pleasure to work with Jaguar and to manage the Bursary Fund on their behalf. Jaguar is an iconic brand, which is all about the best of British so how fitting for them to establish a sporting Academy and a Bursary Fund to support and inspire the next generation of British sporting talent. This will make a real difference to these young rising stars and will be a huge help in their progression and success in their chosen sports.”

David Roberts CBE stated: “The Bursary is a fantastic initiative by the Jaguar Academy of Sport to really help support up and coming talent on their path to future success. I wish I had been lucky enough to have such support in the early days of my career, before reaching my first Paralympic Games. It can be a big leap from junior competition to reaching an Olympic or Paralympic Games.

Jaguar is really showing their commitment to young sporting talent, which is brilliant news.”