Sporting Champions
Scotland's sports stars of today can be a major influence on our young people and help inspire our heroes of tomorrow. They can help encourage and inspire young people to make positive life choices, thereby helping to combat poor health, youth crime and help increase educational achievement.
The Scheme, part of the wider Active Schools Programme, arranged 67 visits in the 2005/06 academic year and has 55 Athletes signed-up from 20 different sports. Athletes that have taken part in the scheme include Yvonne Murray, Chris Cusiter, Rhona Martin MBE and Sinead and John Kerr.
Sporting Champions are involved in a range of activities, including;
- Visits to primary, secondary and special schools;
- Presentation of cup, certificates and badges;
- Speaking at school assemblies and to small groups of youngsters about their experiences as elite performers and life choices they have made; and
- Coaching groups of young people, passing on their knowledge and enthusiasm.
Although the scheme uses prominent personalities who have been successful in their sport, it focuses on sport participation rather than sporting excellence. For further information please see sportscotland's Sporting Champions webpages ( www.sportscotland.org.uk).