David Beckham OBE
Sir Ian Botham OBE
Gareth Edwards CBE
Dame Kelly Holmes DBE MBE
Denise Lewis OBE
Sir Steve Redgrave CBE

06 June 2012. An incredible lineup of British sporting heroes has joined forces for an exclusive Jaguar Academy of Sport workshop to provide the chance for a new generation of young budding sporting talents to learn from their idols.

The Jaguar Academy of Sport works in partnership with the charity SportsAid to support and encourage selected young athletes - 'Rising Stars' - providing them with funding, guidance and the ability to thrive in their chosen discipline.

The Academy's Rising Stars were invited to Altitude at London's Millbank Tower, as part of The Academy's commitment to Mentoring and Education, to attend a workshop and Q&A with some of Britain's most successful sportsmen and women. Giving up their time to support the initiative were David Beckham, Sir Ian Botham, Gareth Edwards, Dame Kelly Holmes, Denise Lewis and Sir Steve Redgrave - each sports stars that have, at some point, defined their respective disciplines.

Focusing on striving for excellence the Rising Stars were exposed to Legends most people of their age just see in print or on TV.  The event provided a once in a life-time opportunity to discuss what it takes to make it to the top with the biggest names in sport and how to cope with the environment this level of competition brings.

Jaguar Academy of Sport Patron David Beckham commented: "I've really enjoyed spending time with the 2012 Rising Stars, they are all clearly very talented young athletes and asked some really great questions, I hope the answers myself and the other Patrons provided will stick with them and help on their journey to the top. I look forward to following them on their journey to the top."

Jaguar Academy of Sport Rising Star Hamish Carter commented: "Opportunities like this are fantastic, to be in the same room as my heroes is amazing, but to be able to ask them questions and find out what they think was the highlight of my year! I would never be able to meet these legends without the Jaguar Academy of Sport and this opportunity will help me achieve my dreams."

Jaguar Academy of Sport Patron Sir Ian Botham commented: "It's been a magnificent day for the Jaguar Academy of Sport. The Rising Stars here today have been very lucky to have us all in the same country let alone in the same room and I hope we have inspired them on their path to future success."

The Jaguar Academy of Sport has been established with the intention to support British sport long term. Each Rising Star receives a Bursary Fund and a unique Mentoring and Education Programme (MEP). The MEP is an integral part of the Academy's success and provides the Rising Stars with invaluable non-financial support they need to compete at the highest level and opportunities like this, to ask their heroes questions is invaluable to that journey.

(ENDS)

Claire Boakes
UK Sport & Lifestyle Jaguar
M: 07557 846883                      
E:cboakes@jaguar.com

Carla McAlpine
Jaguar Academy of Sport
T: 020 72879610
M: 07718 897803
E:  carla@jaguaracademyofsport.co.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS:

B-roll available to support the event.

Website: www.jaguaracademyofsport.co.uk  

This support the Jaguar Academy of Sport has provided has made a tangible difference to the Rising Stars development pathway, with 33% of the 2010 Rising Stars and 30% of 2011 Rising Stars moving on to Talent Development Pathway Funding.

How to become a rising star

To be eligible for the Jaguar Academy of Sport Bursary Fund, the young athlete, both able-bodied and those with a disability, should be nominated to SportsAidfor financial support by their sports own national governing body (NGB). This ensures the Jaguar Academy of Sport helps to support the right athletes, at the right time, in the right way.

Who are the Patrons, Ambassadors and Members

Patrons: including  David Beckham OBE,  Sir Ian Botham OBE,  Sir Steve Redgrave CBE, Gareth Edwards CBE,  Denise Lewis OBE and  Dame Kelly Holmes, MBE, our list reads like a 'who's who' of British sporting Legends. Now they are working together, united in one goal; to nurture the next generation of British sporting greats.

Ambassadors: a selection of Olympic gold medal winning athletes, European Champions League winning footballers, rugby legends and golfing greats including;  Colin Jackson CBE,  Jamie Baulch, Jessica Ennis MBE,  Dai Greene,  Sir Chris Hoy MBE,   Rio Ferdinandand Jonny Wilkinson OBE.

Members: include A.P. McCoy OBE, Sam Warburton, Sally Gunnell and Mo Farah to name but a few are amongst the leading sports personalities who are dedicated to helping young people emulate their success through the Academy.

About SportsAid

• SportsAid helps talented young disabled and able-bodied athletes to achieve their ambitions. Since 1976, the charity has distributed around £50 million to aspiring athletes throughout Britain.
• In 2011, SportsAid helped 2,000 of Britain's best young athletes by providing them with SportsAid awards (which are funded by the charity's donors, partners and supporters) to recognise their achievements and to help them meet the cost of training and competing during the critical formative years of their careers - when individual sponsorship deals can be hard to find.
• Many of the athletes supported by SportsAid go on to achieve international success. For example, 18 of the 19 gold medals won by Team GB at the 2008 Olympics went to SportsAid athletes, and more than a third of Team GB's 42 gold medals at the 2008 Paralympics were won by SportsAid athletes.
• By working with the governing bodies of 75 sports in Britain to identify and support athletes who show the greatest potential, SportsAid ensures the right people are helped at the right time.
• On behalf of UK Sport, SportsAid manages the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS), which supports aspiring British sportsmen and women in higher or further education (HE/FE). Since 2004, the charity has distributed more than £25 million of TASS funding to talented athletes in HE/FE.
• SportsAid is a registered charity (1111612). For more information visitwww.sportsaid.org.uk, follow @TeamSportsAid on Twitter, or sign up to receiveSportsAid's monthly e-newsletter.