Gaming firm signs up to help boost young athletes

Scottish Athletics has announced a new fouryear sponsorship agreement with 4J Studios to back their National Academy programme.

It means the education programme for the best young athletes in Scotland will now be known as the 4J Studios National Athletics Academy.

Support from the Dundee and East Linton based company, who are world leaders in the game development industry, will enhance opportunities to support athletes and coaches over the next four years.

Mark Munro, chief executive of Scottish Athletics, said: “It is such an important programme, offering as it do es education and guidance to many of our best young athletes, their coaches and their support teams [parents/clubs].

“It is essential we have support in place for that programme .4 J Studios were keen to get involved and we see this as now giving them a direct association with the progress of the best young athletes in Scotland, as well as providing enhanced opportunities for athletes and coaches.”

Paddy Burns, chief executive of 4J Studios, said he was delighted that a link with athletics which began at club level with Team East Lothian is now being extended further.

He said :“We’ ve been delighted to see the positive effect support from 4J Studios has had on Team East Lothian–and that led indirectly to this new agreement.

“So it is great for us now to extend our support to Scottish Athletics as the governing body and we look forward to working with them to help develop the most promising young athletes.”

Fife -based hurdler Jack Lawrie is a member of the Academy programme and has represented Great Britain at Under -20 and Under-23 European events.

He said: “I know myself that the option of a bit of support to attend competitive opportunities would be really helpful. If this means someone can get a race in Belgium or somewhere like that, then great.”