PM Transcripts

EMBARGO: 1.00 PM
llAUST 1A A
PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA FRIDAY, 8 OCTOBER 1982
SCHOLARSHIPS TO THE AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF SPORT FOR
DEVELOPING COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES
The Australian Government will allocate ten sports scholarships
a year at the Australian Institute of Sport to selected
athletes from developing Commonwealth countries.
This is not only in recognition of the highly successful
Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, but also recognises that sport
is an area of Commonwealth co-operation, and one in which
there is already a firm foundation of friendship and co-operation.
The scholarships will assist athletes from developing
Commonwealth countries to expand and extend their sporting
skills. The Brisbane Games has shown that there is great
sporting talent in Commonwealth countries. Using the resources
and skills available at the Australian Institute of Sport should
make a real contribution to raising the levels of performance
of athletes selected.
The scholarships will be for one year, will cover return fares
to Australia, living expenses in Australia, a living allowance
and competition costs. The ten scholarships will be in addition
to the 188 already available to Australian athletes. The national
sporting bodies of developing countries will be asked to submit
nominations. The Australian Institute of Sport will be
working out selection procedures in consultation with the
national sporting bodies and the Commonwealth Games Federation.
The first scholarships will be available in 1983.
Sport plays an important part in developing close links with
other countries. The contribution overseas athletes can make
in the Australian Institute of Sport and in Australia, and the
contribution that Australia might make to the development of
sporting skills in other Commonwealth countries, will add to
these close links. ooo000ooo