ITU BG Scholarship

Updated 24/07/2007

Project Goal

The primary objective of the scholarship programme is to identify and provide support, resources and expertise to athletes from emerging/developing National Federations to compete at World Cup, World Championship and Olympic level.
The primary objectives are:

To increase the number of NF’s and athletes coming from emerging/developing NF’s competing at Continental Championships and ITU World Championships at a junior, U23 and Elite level.
To increase the number of female athletes from emerging/developing NF’s represented at Continental Championships and ITU World Championships at a junior, U23 and Elite level.
To increase the number of coaches from emerging/developing NF’s with the knowledge and ability to develop athletes from grassroots to an elite level.

Project Outline

Athletes and Coaches selected for the scholarship programme will be carefully ‘placed’ in a programme commensurate with their specific needs in the interest of their progressive development to an elite level. Placements will vary in duration and form depending on the specific outline of the programme developed by the NF in conjunction with the ITU SD Director deemed to be conducive to the athletes/coach’s development needs.

Target Groups

The target group will be athletes from emerging/developing National Federations who have already shown competence at a Continental Cup level and are looking to make the step up to top level training and racing but need the support in order to do so. These athletes should be seen as Olympic prospects (2012) by their National Federations. The athletes will be drawn primarily from U23 ranks.

Coaches who are to be considered for the scholarship programme will need to carry the support of their NF and also be currently working with national level athletes from their respective countries.

Qualification Criteria

Athletes need to be registered with their National Federations and have shown the ability to race at a high standard in Continental Cup race or World Cup level competition. The athletes nominated should be committed to competing in the long term and have the Olympic Games as an ultimate objective.

The following criteria will be considered by the ITU Sport Development Director in the selection process:

Top 5 placing at Continental Championship in U23 or Junior category in the past two years.
Top 8 placing at Continental Championship in the Elite Category in the past two years.
Must be from a country regarded as an emerging/developing country. All applications will be considered in conjunction with a strong endorsement from the athlete’s NF’s and Continental Federations.
National Federations applying for the grants must apply for Olympic Solidarity Funding under the 2012 London Athlete Scholarship Programme.

Coaches will need to be currently working with athletes from the NF and hold a responsible role within the athlete development pipeline plan of the NF.

Time Line

Applications will be sent out each year to the National Federations in the first week of October and the applications should be submitted to the ITU Sport Development (libby@triathlon.org)
by November 12, 2007. Successful applicants will be informed in the first week of December of each year from which time the ITU Sport Development Director and appointed officers will coordinate the plans with the successful athletes, coaches and the NF.

PLEASE NOTE: All applications MUST be submitted by the National Federations.

Budget

Successful applicants (athlete and coaches) will receive the following:

Placement within a High Performance Programme as determined in conjunction with the ITU Coaches Commission; ITU Sport Development Staff; the athlete and the NF delegate designated to Sport Development.
An invitation to the annual World Junior Camp held under the auspices of the ITU or another camp opportunity as determined by ITU and the respective NF.
The amount of funding allocated to each athlete or coach will depend on the matching funds obtained by the NF from IOC Solidarity grants and to the programme outline submitted by the NF for each candidate.

Evaluation and Requirements of Recipients

The athletes and coaches selected will be tracked for the duration of the placement and monthly reports will be required from the candidates and the mentor coaches.

Athletes who receive the BG Scholarship will be required to compete in the Continental Championship and the ITU World Championship in the year of receiving the scholarship and the year after that and make themselves available for any other National Team Commitments as required by the National Federation.

Coaches who receive the BG Scholarship will be required to present at least two (2) coaching clinics for a relevant target group of athletes/coaches in their respective region in accordance with the long term plan of their National Federation.

All recipients must make themselves available (within reason and without interfering with the athletes training, racing and school commitments) for interviews and photo sessions to promote the programme in their own country and internationally.

Definition and Explanation of National Federation Status

For the purpose of the ITU Sport Development (Athlete and Coaching) we have categorized National Federations into three (3) categories:

Olympic NF’s are those NF’s who had at least two competitors at the Athens Olympics

Emerging NF’s are those NF’s with only one or no competitors at the Athens Olympics but have some representation at the World Championships in the Elite, U/23 or Junior Categories over the past two years.

Developing NF’s are those NF’s with no representation at the World Triathlon Championships in the Elite, U/23 and Junior Categories in the past two years.

The Athlete and Coaching Development Programme specifically targets Emerging and DevelopingNF’s.

PLEASE NOTE: CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: NOVEMBER 12, 2007.