Provincial athletes are being encouraged to
submit applications for the 2010 Premier�s Athletic Awards
Program, which acknowledges athletic achievement and provides
recipients with financial support to help offset costs for
training and competition.
Eligible athletes can receive grants ranging
from $500 to $1,500. The deadline to submit applications to
provincial sports organizations is January 21, 2011.
"This program recognizes, celebrates and
supports talented young athletes in this province," said the
Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Premier of Newfoundland and
Labrador. "Our province continues to produce athletes who
compete, and win, at the national and international levels. As a
government, we are proud to provide such a vital investment in
the further development of our athletes, and to acknowledge
their commitment to athletic excellence."
This year, for the first time, the program
will include a new element, the Elite Athlete Assistance
Program.
"The Elite Athlete Assistance Program is an
enhanced component of the Premier's Athletic Awards Program
designed to support exceptionally high-performance athletes
throughout the province," said the Honourable Terry French,
Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation. "With this new
program, we are pleased to extend our support to the growing
number of outstanding athletes competing on the national and
international stage."
The Elite Athlete Assistance Program is
available to athletes who are currently on national teams, but
are not eligible for the Premier's Athletic Awards Program. It
is also open to athletes who have represented Canada in senior
international competition such as World Championships, Olympic/Paralympic
Games, Commonwealth and Pan Am Games in sports that are funded
by Sport Canada. Based on program criteria, eligible athletes
can receive grants ranging from $2,000 to $5,000.
The Premier�s Athletic Awards Program is open
to all residents of Newfoundland and Labrador who are currently
attending school (including post-secondary), and are members of
a provincial sport organization recognized by the Department of
Tourism, Culture and Recreation. Along with other criteria,
athletes must have competed, and will continue to compete, for
Newfoundland and Labrador at regional and national competitions,
including the Canada Games.
Since the Premier�s Athletic Awards Program
was implemented in 2004, almost $500,000 in financial assistance
has been provided to more than 400 provincial athletes.
Athletes are asked to submit their Premier�s
Athletic Awards or Elite Athlete Assistance Program application
to their provincial sport organization(s). Further information
and application forms for both programs can be found online at:
www.tcr.gov.nl.ca/tcr/sports/premieraa.html.
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