Elite athletes are top of the class
Tuesday, 31 May 2005
Some of South ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s best athletes will today (Tuesday, May 31) lend their support for a new assistance scheme established by the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide for its current and future student-athletes.
Port Power footballer Bradley Symes, State cricketer Cullen Bailey, Adelaide 36er Darren Ng and ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥n fencer Rowena Newcombe are all students at the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide and will be in attendance at the official launch of the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s (EASIS) from 10am at the National Wine Centre.
EASIS is designed to identify and help elite athletes trying to balance their sporting commitments with their ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide studies, as well as promote the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ to prospective student-athletes. The project officer for EASIS is world champion and Olympic rower Amber Halliday, who also has two degrees from the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide.
The service is part of the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥'s membership of the national network of Elite Athlete Friendly Universities, which has the backing of the , the and professional player associations such as the and the .
Already, some 40 students at Adelaide have been identified as potential beneficiaries of the scheme, with more than half of these expected to attend today's launch.
Sports represented by these 40 student-athletes include cricket, hockey, water-skiing, AFL, kayaking, sailing, water polo, basketball, beach volleyball, athletics, ice hockey, rowing, orienteering and baseball.
ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide says the EASIS program would give students the opportunity and flexibility to pursue their education while still meeting the demands of being an elite athlete, such as leave of absence to attend major competitions, or sitting exams externally if needed.
"We have a history of providing an environment where students are encouraged to enjoy the total university experience, which includes playing sport - for example, we have produced 98 who have all excelled with their studies and their sport," he says.
"This program is designed to not only help those student-athletes who are already here, but also to promote the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ to future students as a place to get the best out of yourself in both academic and sporting pursuits."
MEDIA NOTE: Media are invited to attend the launch of the ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide's Elite Athlete Support and Information Service. All student-athletes attending, and representing a wide range of sports, will be available for interviews/photographs/vision. The launch is being held in Kelly's Gallery, , from 10am today (Tuesday, May 31).
Contact details
Email: media@adelaide.edu.au
Website: /newsroom/
The ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide
Business: +61 8 8313 0814
Mr David Ellis
Email: david.ellis@adelaide.edu.au
Website: /newsroom/
Deputy Director, Media and Corporate Relations
External Relations
The ÐÓ°ÉÖ±²¥ of Adelaide
Business: +61 8 8313 5414
Mobile: +61 (0)421 612 762