5 athletes land $28,000 contracts

Five Cook Islands athletes have received 2012 London Olympic Scholarships as part of the Olympic Solidarity programme.

Canoeists Ella Nicholas and Joshua Utanga along with national sailors Taua Elisa, Junior Charlie and Helema Williams are the successful recipients of the scholarships which will see each athlete receive $28,000 over a two-year period.

Each athlete will also receive an additional $5000 from the Olympic Solidarity programme specifically to cover costs linked to athletes taking part in international Olympic qualification competitions.

The scholarship will be in operation between September 1, 2010, and August 31, 2012.

The five athletes and their respective national federation have signed contracts with the Olympic Solidarity programme.

In order to access the scholarship funds – each athlete and their national federation must file four-monthly training and financial reports where Olympic Solidarity will pay the scholarships to the National Olympic Committee (CISNOC) which is responsible for giving it to the athlete according to a budget distribution plan approved in the athlete contracts.

The five athletes have been planning, preparing and training for the 2012 Olympics and the scholarships will go a long way to ensuring they are in tip top shape to qualify and represent the Cook Islands on the Olympic stage.