LIVERPOOL has long held a reputation as a sporting city but in recent times many of its promising young athletes have been forced to leave to pursue their sporting goals.
That could be about to change. The newly-launched Sports Scholarship scheme at Liverpool's John Moores University has been designed to give local sportsmen and women a chance to reach their potential while remaining in the region.
Traditionally Britain has lagged behind other countries in the support offered to the most promising young athletes. With the launch of the sports scholarship programme, John Moores University has signalled its determination to tackle the problem.
The scheme has been a year in development, and more than 100 athletes applied for the first places on the scheme - with just 13 making it through. Many of the athletes are from the region but the university hopes to attract other leading sports stars of the future to Liverpool.
Those selected compete in a wide range of sporting disciplines but each share the determination and focus that marks the true competitor.
The sports scholars are combining their sports careers with full-time academic degrees. Athletes are assigned an individual sports mentor, who can tailor a specific fitness and diet programme to suit their individual needs.
The mentor can also help the athlete manage the often conflicting demands of sporting and academic life. The difficulty of keeping to course deadlines at the same time as fulfilling a punishing training schedule is one of the biggest challenges facing JMU's student athletes.
Academic staff, who might not understand the demands of competing at the highest level, can also benefit from the experience of the mentor.
