THE Echo has teamed up with Basildon Renaissance and Basildon District Council to launch Basildon Ambassadors of Sport (BAS).

It is a brand new initiative aimed at aspiring sports people who excel in their given discipline and have the potential to compete in international competition but who are not yet receiving national sponsorship funding.

Five sports people, voted for by Echo readers, will each receive a grant of £500 from Basildon Renaissance Partnership and Basildon District Council.

In return, the two organisations would require the five Basildon Ambassadors of Sport to attend sporting events when possible to talk to other children and hold master classes to inspire other youngsters.

Most of these events would be held during school holidays.

"The idea stemmed from talks with sports clubs in the Basildon district, where it was suggested using aspiring athletes to promote sport and the planned Sporting Village in Gloucester Park," said sporting village project director Roy Short.

"Basildon Ambassadors of Sport is open to aspiring athletes resident in the Basildon district who have the potential to represent their country in intertnation competition, who do not yet meet the criteria for national funding schemes.

"These sporting ambassadors will promote and encourange sports participation, an active and healthy lifestyle, the Sporting Village and the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games."

Basildon Ambassadors of Sport is sponsored by Basildon Sporting Village and is effectively a third strand to the council's Sports Development Grant scheme that currently covers individuals and groups.

The third strand is for individuals who have the potential to become elite athletes and represent their country at international level.

They will be ambassadors for Basildon sport and the Sporting Village.

BAS is being launched today to coincide with The Games event being held in Gloucester Park on Wednesday and the Active Basildon celebration at the Towngate Theatre on Thursday.

BAS is open to sports people aged 11 and above, although younger people may be considered in exceptional circumstances, providing they live in, compete for a club in or attend a school or college in the district covered by Basildon Council.

The closing date for nominations is Friday, June 27. A panel of judges representing Echo Newspapers, Basildon Renais-sance Partnership / Basildon Sporting Village and Basildon District Council's sports development team will whittle the nominations down to 10 nominees.

Echo readers will then be invited to vote on who they think is the most deserving nominees, with the five sports people receiving the most votes will each receive a £500 grant.

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