photo opportunity 12.30pm, Friday 5 October Institute of Sport and Exercise, Old Hawkhill, University of Dundee.
Commonwealth games hopefuls will gather at the Institute of Sport and Exercise tomorrow to vie for the University of Dundee Excel Sports scholarship - a programme which supports students in their sporting pursuits while continuing with their studies.
Jonathan Oparka who has been selected for the Scottish relay team for next summer's Commonwealth Games in Manchester graduated from the University this summer and was supported through his training and studies by the Excel scholarship. He will attend the Excel induction day for scholarship hopefuls tomorrow to explain the benefits of the programme and to offer students tips on how to balance their studies and their training.
Jonathan: "It wouldn't have been possible to do as much training while I was at University without the support of Excel. The scholarship allowed me to train in Edinburgh with some of the country's top athletes like Dougie Walker. Weight work is an important aspect of my training - the scholarship gave me access to these facilities."
A large number of the seventeen applicants for the highly contested scholarship have included selection for the Commonwealth games as one of their sporting aims this year. The applicants whose sports range through triathlon, volleyball, rugby and ice hockey will hear a number of presentations from experts in coaching and sport training including sessions on sports medicine, psychology, science and nutrition.
The Excel scholarship organises sports training, psychology, therapy and time management services as well as negotiating exam diets with departments to allow the scholars to participate in events all round the country. The programme is funded by the Institute of Sport and Exercise and by local sponsor Bett Inns./ENDS
Contact
Kirsteen Cruickshank, Excel Co-ordinator, Institute of Sport and
Exercise
01382 345177