To identify and support talented athletes to reach their sporting potential

Coventry has a very proud sporting heritage, as recently demonstrated by Coventry athletes representing Team GB at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. To build on these levels of success, schools, sports clubs, coaches and partner organisations must work together to identify and support emerging talented athletes in the city.

Using expertise held within Coventry’s sports clubs, the universities and partner organisations, the city must bring together and coordinate the services needed by talented athletes, to enable them to fully progress in their field and to achieve their sporting potential. A particular focus must be given to widening and developing talent pathways within disability sport, where (with some notable exceptions) support for talented athletes within the local club network is often more difficult to access.

Coventry’s central location means the city is also ideally placed to attract the development of key regional sports hubs to act as a focus for talent development and for the achievement of excellence.

Strategic Objectives

1. To establish and embed a Coventry Institute of Sport that provides early specialist support services for the benefit of talented athletes.
2. To establish local talent identification programmes which are fully integrated into all strategic Sport Implementation Plans.
3. To establish talent identification and development programmes across ten sports that support disabled people to reach their sporting potential.
4. To work in partnership with National Governing Bodies of sport to establish four Midlands-based development hubs in Coventry.

I have been fortunate to be supported throughout my athletics career so far.

I am really excited that a Coventry Institute of Sport will be developed through the Coventry Sports Strategy to support other local talented sports people.

Rowena Cole800 / 1,500m AthleteCoventry Godiva Harriers & Great Britain