Elite athletes are top of the class

Tuesday, 31 May 2005

Some of South Australia's best athletes will today (Tuesday, May 31) lend their support for a new assistance scheme established by the University of Adelaide for its current and future student-athletes.

Port Power footballer Bradley Symes, State cricketer Cullen Bailey, Adelaide 36er Darren Ng and Australian fencer Rowena Newcombe are all students at the University of Adelaide and will be in attendance at the official launch of the University's Elite Athlete Support and Information Service (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 University of Adelaide studies, as well as promote the University to prospective student-athletes. The project officer for EASIS is world champion and Olympic rower Amber Halliday, who also has two degrees from the University of Adelaide.

The service is part of the University's membership of the national network of Elite Athlete Friendly Universities, which has the backing of the Australian Sports Commission, the South Australian Institute of Sport and professional player associations such as the AFL Players' Association and the Australian Cricketers' Association.

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.

University of Adelaide Vice-Chancellor Professor James McWha 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 Rhodes Scholars 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 University 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 University 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, National Wine Centre, from 10am today (Tuesday, May 31).

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