Basketball star to inspire South West Academy of Sport participants - 7 July 2008
Home-grown basketball star Mark Worthington thinks the South West Academy of Sport is a slam dunk for young athletes in the region.
Between training for the Beijing Olympics and shooting hoops for the national Australian team, the former Australind boy has thrown his support behind the academy.
He has come on board as the official patron of the academy’s basketball program.
Worthington said young people from country and regional areas of Western Australia often had more obstacles to overcome to reach their goals than their city peers – but he hoped the academy would help to even the playing field.
“The South West Academy of Sport is an excellent initiative that will help young players from the South West region achieve their dreams in basketball,” he said.
Worthington, an Australian basketball player for the South Dragons, was named the NBL rookie of the year in 2006 and won gold with the Australian basketball team at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
He is now part of the Australia Post Boomers Beijing Olympic Squad.
Worthington said with hard work and persistence, it was possible South West talents could follow in his footsteps and compete at an elite level.
“I have great memories from my days as a junior in Australind and the opportunity to represent my family, town, State and now my country is a great honour and one that I will always remember long after I have stopped playing,” he said.
South West Academy of Sport board chairman Don Punch said Worthington was an outstanding choice for patron of the academy’s basketball program.
“We are honoured he has accepted the role of basketball patron,” he said.
“Mark, who is set to represent Australia at the Olympics in August, will make an outstanding role model for young participants in the program.”
The academy, which has Australian Rules football, soccer, hockey and basketball as its partner sports, will give young people the level of training and education they require to reach the next level of their chosen sport.
It will do so by enhancing training and support at a local level in an effort to save up-and-coming athletes the burdens of travel and leaving their homes to pursue sporting excellence.
The State Government and South West Development Commission have so far committed almost $250,000 toward the South West Academy of Sport.
Funding has also come from businesses and companies including foundation partner The Griffin Group and associate sponsors Worsley Alumina and WIN Television.
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Media contact:
Teneille Watson
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