A new programme designed to aid young, upcoming athletes has been initiated by the Department of Youth, Sport and Recreation.

Sports Minister Pamela Gordon yesterday told of the creation of the National Junior Athlete Sponsorship Programme which will offer $25,000 per annum, to be divided among a maximum of six athletes from six different sports.

Recipients will be allowed to use the money to help with their equipment purchases, tuition/coaching and expenses for national or international training events or competitions.

A committee, appointed annually, will administer the programme. The 1994 chairman is James Amos, while other members include Cal Simons, Ann Dunstan, Jean Atherden and Randy Horton.

Gordon explained the objective of the programme as being threefold: Firstly, to recognise Bermudian junior athletes who have demonstrated the commitment, performance and potential to become elite athletes.

Secondly, to provide financial assistance for Bermudian junior athletes, whose performance has shown a clear indication of development in selected sports.

And lastly, to support and provide opportunities for Bermudian junior athletes to reach their full potential.

"One of the points that I would like to make sure that we bring out, and this is very important, is that we have selection priority for the recipient of the National Junior Athlete Sponsorship Programme,'' said Gordon during an afternoon press conference. "And they must have demonstrated a sustained level of excellence and commitment to their sport, together with a good attitude and social maturity.

"One of the things that we find is that many of our young people have been unable to be committed to a particular sport.

"So if they are disciplined from a sport that they are participating in they will leave and go elsewhere. Because of the affluence within our community many young people feel they don't need to be disciplined, they don't have to be disciplined, because they'll just be able to move on.

"This will help our young people to learn commitment and to understand what it takes to be involved in sport, and that it's not just about being a good player, you need to be a well rounded individual and we're hoping that this programme will assist them.

"We recognise that our young people need an avenue to be able to express themselves and this is yet one other avenue that the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Recreation feels is important to help our young people understand the level of commitment of involvement and to also know that with that commitment there will be some level of support.'' Meanwhile, department director Brenton Roberts noted that a specific age criteria had not been adopted due to the varying ages of maturity in different sports.

Mentioned was the late blossoming of an equestrian, who might not reach his/her peak until their late twenties or even thirties, as compared to swimmers who generally reach their apex before the age of 20.

"Some sports people peak at a younger age than others and therefore we've been very careful not to put an age determinant on what a youth athlete is,'' explained Roberts. "We will leave that up to the governing body of sport to make that determination based on the sport itself. As you know, if you take a sport like swimming by the time you're 20-years-old you're over the hill or getting over the hill. Gymnastics is similar, but in other sports such as soccer and cricket and track and field you can go on until much older.'' Continuing, Roberts alluded to the already established elite athlete's fund and said that this fund offered incentives for the junior athlete looking to achieve elite status and while the programme appeared weighted in favour of those in individual sports, those involved in team sports could also benefit.