News Story Date : 30 November, 2009

British entrepreneur announces support for Olympic hopefuls

· Fund to help 2012 Olympic athletes
· Charity to support grassroots sports projects
· Heptathlon World Champion Jessica Ennis to act as patron

A British entrepreneur today revealed plans to roll-out a scheme aimed at boosting Britain’s chances of podium success at the 2012 London Olympics and encouraging greater participation in sport at a grass roots level.

Barrie Wells, a lifelong and passionate fan of Olympic sports, announced the names of 15 athletes he is providing funding to and also unveiled a charity he has created to fund sport in sustainable grass roots projects.

All of the athletes receiving support have been personally chosen by Barrie Wells, who worked with the sports’ governing bodies to identify podium potential athletes for 2012 and beyond that are in need of additional financial support. Each athlete will receive up to £8,000 per year and the list currently includes five British swimmers; Hannah Miley, Liam Tancock, Caitlin McClatchey, Lizzie Simmonds and Anne Bochmann; modern pentathletes Sam Weale and Freyja Prentice; heptathletes Jessica Ennis and Katarina Thompson; and runners Michael Rimmer, Stephanie Twell and Jodie Williams.

Funding has also been provided for runners Adam Bowden, Charlotte Roach and Katie Ingram, enabling British Triathlon to create a new initiative called TriGold. All champions and international level runners in steeplechase, mountain running and cross country, Adam, Charlotte and Katie have been selected to make the transition to triathletes to compete at international level and specifically the 2012 Olympic Games. The TriGold programme will aim to bring their cycling and swimming up to the level of their running to challenge for medals at the games in London.

Each of the athletes has their individual needs evaluated before funding is allocated. This has led to practical as well as financial support being given to each of them, from coaches and swimsuits to academic tutors and yoga teachers.

Jessica Ennis, gold medallist in the heptathlon at this year’s world championships in Berlin, was one of the first to benefit from Barrie’s support. She has seen first hand the positive effect of investment. Jessica commented: “I was personally helped by Barrie this summer when he paid for my personal physiotherapist Alison Rose to attend the World Championships. After my injury in 2008, I wanted to ensure that she was there to work alongside the GB team physios, as she is the one who treats me every week. It gave me huge peace of mind.

Barrie Wells commented: “I have long had a love of sport and am now in the lucky position to be able to provide direct personal funding that will make a difference to a group of athletes who I truly believe in. I have spent a lot of time getting to know each of these athletes, their coaches and in many cases their families to understand how the support I’m offering can have the maximum impact. I’m as eager as everyone else to see Britain deliver plenty of medals in 2012 and essentially that’s what this is about – British Olympic success.”

The Olympic hopefuls will also act as ambassadors for a new charity that is being launched by the entrepreneur. The Wells Sports Foundation aims to encourage young people to take part in grass roots sport by providing financial and motivational support to sustainable grass roots sports projects. Each of the athletes receiving support from Barrie Wells will be visiting schools and sports clubs across the country to promote the work of the Foundation and act as the inspiration for young people to take up sport.

Jessica Ennis, who is the patron of the charity, commented: “Having witnessed Barrie’s commitment to helping up and coming sportspeople, I felt adding my support by becoming the Patron of the Wells Sports Foundation was a good thing to do. I’m really excited about helping to support sports at a grass roots level, reaching out to young people to promote sport as a lifelong activity.”

Barrie Wells added: “While the programme with the athletes of 2012 revolves around the big stage and the excitement of the Olympics, the Foundation is very much about sport at grass roots level. I got a huge amount of enjoyment out of sport when I was younger and I think it’s important that everyone gets the chance to experience the passion and excitement that sport can make you feel even if you’re playing in the park, at school or with your local club. Primarily we want to encourage participation and enjoyment and maybe that will even help us to discover a future British medal winner.”

Anyone interested in applying for support for grass roots sports projects can find out more at http://www.wellssportsfoundation.com. Applications can be submitted from January 2010.

For more information see here or visits the Wells Sports Foundation website