Boost for Little Athletics

23/10/01
Up to 6,000 young athletes around the State will benefit from a funding increase to the Little Athletics Association, Sport and Recreation Minister Alan Carpenter said today.
Mr Carpenter said the State Government had delivered on an election promise for an additional $200,000 in funding over four years to Little Athletics through the Sports Lottery Account.
"In this year's funding round, AthleticA, the recognized State Sporting Association for athletics in Western Australia, will receive $50,000 specifically for Little Athletics," he said.
"Similar funding will be made available in the subsequent rounds.
"There are 63 Little Athletics Associations throughout the State, involving up to 6,000 children aged six to 16.
"Little Athletics is a vital sporting institution that provides opportunities for young people to take part in a range of activities and develop their skills and interest in athletics.
"However, not enough young people continue after they graduate to the senior level.
"This extra funding will enable AthleticA to work with the WA Little Athletics Association on programs to encourage young people to pursue athletics into adulthood."
Mr Carpenter said Western Australia did not have to look too far for Little Athletics success stories.
"We have all followed the careers of Lauren and Renee Poetschka who began their careers in little athletics aged seven and distinguished themselves, and Little Athletics, by representing Australia at the Olympic level," he said.
"Renee competed in the 1992 and 1996 Olympics while Lauren competed in Sydney last year.
"While Renee has retired from the sport to concentrate on her teaching career, Lauren is still training and competing."
Mr Carpenter said he would do all he could to encourage young people to pursue physically active lifestyles.
"The Premier's Physical Activity Taskforce has been given the job of developing strategies to increase the level of physical activity among Western Australians by five per cent by 2011," Mr Carpenter said.
"With the athletics season about to begin, I would encourage parents to consider enrolling their children in Little Athletics programs."
Media contact: Owen Cole - 9213 6806