Archived press release

Date Published: 18/02/08

Talented athletes and small businesses in Aylesbury Vale are being encouraged to make the most of opportunities arising from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Aylesbury Vale District Council and partner organisations are offering grants and ...

Talented athletes and small businesses in Aylesbury Vale are being encouraged to make the most of opportunities arising from the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Aylesbury Vale District Council and partner organisations are offering grants and other support to help boost the involvement of local athletes and firms in the Games.

Up-and-coming athletes can take advantage of an Olympic passport scheme in their bid to be part of the British team in 2012.

The Bucks Sport Talent PasSport will provide athletes, who are part of a national team or squad or are listed in the top 10 of any national age group, free access to a number of sporting facilities in Buckinghamshire at off peak times for personal training and development.

The scheme has been set up by the Bucks Sports Partnership, with support from Aylesbury Vale District Council and other local authorities, to help the most promising athletes in the county achieve their full potential.

Local businesses have a real chance of getting a slice of the £25 billion the 2012 Games are expected to generate, with support from AVDC. The council is offering grants of up to £2,500 for small business developments directly related to improving services for visitors and participants to the Games. Grants will be awarded for a variety of purposes, such as property improvements, marketing and advertising, new equipment purchases and staff training.

Grants of up to £1,000 are also available from the Aylesbury Vale Joint Sports Council to help local athletes with training, equipment or coaching costs.

Councillor David Thompson, Cabinet Member for Leisure at AVDC, said: “The 2012 Games present unprecedented opportunities for Aylesbury Vale and we want to support local athletes and businesses to ensure that these opportunities are maximised. It is important that talented athletes and small firms across the district realise that they can apply for grants and I would encourage them to come forward and make applications to see if there is a way the council and its partners can help.”

For further information about financial support for athletes in Aylesbury Vale, eligibility and application details, visit www.buckssportnews.org or call 01296 585215.

To learn more about 2012 business opportunities or how to access funding, please call Ian Barham on 01296 585184 or email ibarham@aylesburyvaledc.gov.uk