Olympic Sport Scholarship Boosted

Media Release

10 October 2007

Olympic Sport Scholarship Boosted with ‘Beijing 2008’ Experience

Applications for the 2007 Inspiring New Zealanders Scholarship in Olympic Sports are Now Open

Air New Zealand is delighted to announce that applications for the 2007 Inspiring New Zealanders Scholarship in Olympic Sports are open. Now in its third year, the year long scholarship will help set another ten outstanding young sportspeople from around the country on the path to Olympic success with the full weight of five Gold and two Silvers medals, 10 World Championships and a MBE behind them.

The scholarship recipients will receive a year’s worth of mentoring, support and advice to help achieve their Olympic goal from New Zealand’s highest echelon of sporting achievers; triathletes Hamish Carter and Bevan Docherty, cyclist Sarah Ulmer, skier Claudia Riegler, and windsurfer Barbara Kendall.

The 2007 scholarship recipients will also accompany Olympic Gold medallist, Hamish Carter, on a trip to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, gaining rare and invaluable insight into an event which offers the pinnacle of sporting achievement.

In addition to the Beijing trip and the individual mentoring sessions, recipients will receive flights and accommodation to attend a mentoring workshop, monthly communication with their mentors, and one return economy class trip on Air New Zealand to any Air New Zealand destination to compete at an international event. And all recipients will benefit from an Air New Zealand Gold Airpoints membership for one year, which includes increased baggage allowance and priority check-in.

Former New Zealand Olympic representative and Air New Zealand General Manager Airline Operations and Planning, and former New Zealand Olympic representative, Glen Sowry, says that Air New Zealand is delighted to be extending its support for the next generation of medallists.

“The opportunity to be mentored by one of these outstanding New Zealand Olympic medallists is of enormous value to any aspiring athlete. The experience and knowledge that is passed on will provide a real springboard towards representing New Zealand with distinction at the Olympic or Commonwealth Games,” says Mr Sowry.

To date, 18 young Inspiring New Zealanders Olympic Sports Scholarship winners have benefited from the invaluable advice from mentors especially on subjects such as how to manage the psychological pressure associated with performing at an elite level, and how to improve motivation, drive and mental focus.

The scholarship is open to New Zealand residents or passport holders, who haven’t yet represented New Zealand at a Commonwealth or Olympic Games. They must be amongst the best in their age-group in New Zealand in an individual Olympic sport, must be a member of a New Zealand National Sports Organisation and either a member of a national development squad or have achieved national honours in your sport, or equivalent.

Aspiring applicants for the Air New Zealand Inspiring New Zealanders Scholarship in Olympic Sports can apply online at www.inspiringnewzealanders.com . Applications must be received by 5pm on the 1st of November 2007. The successful scholarship recipients will be announced late November 2007.

The Air New Zealand Inspiring New Zealanders Scholarship programme also includes scholarships in Film, Fashion and Wine. For more information, please visit www.inspiringnewzealanders.com

ENDS

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