Applications available for Athlete Assistance Program

The Recreation and Sport Division of the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation announced today that applications are now available for the provincial Athlete Assistance Program. The program provides financial assistance to qualifying amateur athletes who are training to represent the province at national and international competitions, Canada Games, or those who have been identified as potential national team members.

During 2002/03, the Athlete Assistance Program provided 66 athletes with assistance totalling $46,500. In total, the program received 163 applications which represented 23 different provincial sport organizations. Grants range from $500 to $1,500 and are subject to recommendations by provincial sport organizations, budget allocations and the quality and number of candidates.

Applications for the Athlete Assistance Program are now available from provincial sport organizations, the Physical Education Department Memorial University of Newfoundland, College of the North Atlantic, Sport Newfoundland and Labrador, School Sports Newfoundland and Labrador and the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation or the department�s Web site www.gov.nl.ca/tcr/athlete

Applicants must submit applications to their respective provincial sport organization on or before November 14, 2003. The Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation has established several guidelines and criteria for the selection process and reserves the right to make the final selection.

Further information on the Athlete Assistance Program can be obtained by calling the Recreation and Sport Division, Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation at (709) 729-2779.

Media contact: Vanessa Colman-Sadd, Communications, (709) 729-0857

BACKGROUNDER
Athlete Assistance Program guidelines 2003-2004

To provide financial assistance to qualifying amateur athletes to help offset the costs of training and competition.

Athletes must meet the following criteria:

1. Athletes must be residents of Newfoundland and Labrador and have a permanent fixed address in Newfoundland and Labrador in the funding year. (That is an athlete may train out of province but his/her parent/guardian maintain a permanent fixed address within this province.)

2. Athletes must be a currently registered member of a provincial sport organization recognized by the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation.

3. Athletes who are national team members or have been identified as national team potential. Athletes training for Canada Games or provincial teams may also be considered.

4. If eligible, athletes must compete, and continue to compete for Newfoundland and Labrador at Canada Games, national and Atlantic competitions.

5. Athletes must be currently training, and continue to train, in Newfoundland and Labrador. Exceptions will be made providing the athlete can substantiate (in writing) that:

a) he/she cannot receive the required level of training in Newfoundland and Labrador. This could be due to lack of facilities, coaching, competition, etc
b) he/she must attend a post-secondary institution out-of-province because the course of study is not available in Newfoundland and Labrador.
c) it is more financially feasible to attend a post-secondary institution out-of-province.

6. Athletes carded by the Sport Canada Athlete Assistance Program are NOT eligible.

7. Athletes must be attending an educational institution on a full-time basis in 2003/04. Exceptions will be made providing the athlete can substantiate (in writing) that his/her training program will not allow him/her to attend school full-time.

8. Athletes who have completed their area of study and who continue to train towards participation in the Olympics, Para-Olympics, Commonwealth or Pan Am Games will be given consideration.

9. Athletes who are attending an educational institution on a full-time basis in 2003/04 and are receiving an athletic scholarship either in Canada or United States are not eligible for assistance.

Awards are subject to recommendations by provincial sport organizations, budget allocations, quality and number of candidates. The Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation reserves the right to make the final selection.

Awards will range from $500 - $1,500.

November 14, 2003

The Athlete Assistance Grant must be used for defraying costs related to training and competition. Athletes must be currently training and competing in the sport indicated and continue to train upon receipt of an Athlete Assistance Award. Violation of the program�s guidelines, terms and conditions may result in forfeiture of the award.

2003 10 22                                       2:40 p.m.