HPSNZ general manager Mike McGovern said the Emerging Talent grant was a new category within the highly regarded 'Performance Enhancement Grant' programme which helps athletes already competing on the world stage with direct financial help to better enable them to maximise their potential.
"It takes many years for athletes to develop their skills to be world's best, and the aim of the Emerging Talent grants is to provide a financial leg-up for athletes who may be 4-8 years from the podium but cannot commit the time to the training they need now, or are unable to attend key competitions or training camps, due to financial constraints," McGovern said.
"We've created this new category in partnership with national sport organisations to remove some of those development barriers and to help athletes tracking towards Tokyo in 2020, or pinnacle events after that, so they can dedicate more time now to the sport they love and ultimately help their progression towards the podium."
Recipients so far include rising discus star Siositina Hakeai who has placed just outside the medals at Junior World Championships and the Commonwealth Games, laser sailor Thomas Saunders who secured his first medal, a silver, in 2013 and is part of the NZL Sailing Team and snowboarder Carlos Garcia Knight, who was identified in a talent camp a few years ago and claimed a silver medal in slopestyle at the FIS Snowboard Junior World Championships in Yabuli this year.
McGovern says HPSNZ and national sport organisations are working together to close gaps in talent development so the next generation of high performance athletes are supported to reach their full potential.
"Our new Emerging Talent PEGs are one of a number of initiatives by HPSNZ to get a head start on the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic cycle. While we're making a moderate investment in these grants, the sports have been very responsive in targeting our support to their growing talent to ensure those with potential get this extra financial help so they can advance their growth in the sport," he said.
Q and A
Q. Who is eligible for a Grant?
A. Athletes from a select group of HPSNZ's key sports who have been identified as having the talent to represent New Zealand at elite level competition may be eligible.
Q. What is the Performance Enhancement Grants (PEGs) programme?
A. The $6.5 million a year PEGs programme provides targeted athletes and teams with direct financial support to enable them to train fulltime to maximise performance at international competition. The grants are usually paid via the athletes' national sport organisations and are used to help support athletes so they can train to the level required to progress. Grants range from $25,000 for medallists in non-Olympic sports up to $60,000 for Olympic gold medallists.
Q. What are HPSNZ's targets for the Olympic and Paralympic Games?
A. HPSNZ is targeting 14 or more medals at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and 12 gold medals at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games; 16 or more medals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and 10-14 gold medals at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games; and one medal at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games and one gold medal at the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games. HPSNZ also has targets for winning world championships in non-Olympic sports.
