(ATR) The WOA Service to Olympians grant scheme will support athletes undertaking life transition when their sporting careers come to an end.
The $5,000 grants will be available to national Olympians associations to apply for funding for programs that directly benefit the ongoing development of Olympians in their country.
The WOA Executive Committee ratified the new initiative at itsquarterly meeting in PyeongChang on the sidelines of the Winter Olympics. At the meeting, a workshop was run with Olympians to finalise the scope and timing of the program.
"We are proud to announce this new initiative, which we hope will make a positive difference to the lives of Olympians," said World Olympians Association president Joël Bouzou.
"We are committed to supporting Olympians to reach their potential at all stages of their lives.
"Through our WOA Service to Olympians grant program we can empower Olympians to be leaders in their communities and to use the skills and experience they have gained through years of striving to compete at the top of their sport to help make the world a better place."
This initiative sits alongside the WOA Service to Society grant program, which was launched in 2016 to help fund Olympian-led, sustainable community projects that align with the promotion of the Olympic values. Six National Olympians Associations were awarded these grants in the first round of funding in 2017.
Applications for the new WOA Service to Olympians grants open in April.
Reported by Mark Bisson
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