Sky Sports Launches Bigger Scholarship Scheme

The Sky Sports Scholarship Programme is returning for a third time, selecting a new group of rising stars who will receive funding, new opportunities and focused support.

After an application process, Sky Sports has launched its third scholarship programme with ten sportsmen and women from the UK and Ireland.

The scholarship, which has already helped over 20 athletes, provides young athletes with support through their relationship with Sky as they develop their careers.

The programme runs from 2017-2020 and offers scholars benefits which include financial aid, both a sporting and business executive mentor, media training, personal development and work experience.

The third Sky Sports Scholarship Programme has also opened its doors to athletes from a greater range of sports and for the first time includes scholars specialising in tennis, modern pentathlon and climbing. Sky will closely support them as they take the next steps on their journey.

The ten athletes awarded scholarships are; Freya Anderson (swimming); Emily Appleton (tennis); Joe Fraser (gymnastics); Ellen Keane (para-swimming); Samantha Kinghorn (wheelchair racing); Imani Lansiquot (sprints); Max Litchfield (swimming); Andrew Pozzi (hurdles); Francesca Summers (modern pentathlon); and Molly Thompson-Smith (indoor climbing)

The scheme will award further scholarships to European athletes from Italy, Germany and Austria.

Stephen van Rooyen, Sky UK and Ireland, chief executive, commented:”Sky plays a key role in encouraging and inspiring young people to set bigger goals and go further than the previous generation, and our Sports Scholarship programme is a fine example of this. The scholars joining us today have limitless potential and with the full weight of Sky supporting them they can be anything they want to be. I’m excited to see their stories unfold over the coming years.”

Tony Lester, head of Sky Sports Scholarship programme, said: “This is a fascinating group of young athletes and future sporting success stories, and it’s a real privilege to be able to impact on their careers at such a crucial time. Sky has supported more than 20 athletes over the past six years, and we’ve been able to help them reach even higher in their goals. This time it will be an even stronger bond that we form to help them not only in their sport, but as they get perspective on the huge opportunities in front of them.”