Louisa Wall: Win, win for athletes and the mentors

I am not sure about Air New Zealand's new Zambesi-designed uniforms but I certainly like their new in-flight cups featuring some of New Zealand's finest athletes.

I applaud Air NZ's initiative in partnering the likes of Sarah Ulmer, Hamish Carter, Bevan Docherty and Claudia Riegler in the one-on-one mentoring programme, Inspiring New Zealanders. The company's scholarship programme is endorsed by the New Zealand Olympic Committee and is a wonderful initiative.

It is similar to the now defunct Hillary Commission's Tomua Tomuri programme, previously run by my ex-Silver Fern teammate and captain Waimarama Taumaunu.

I was involved as a relative newcomer. My protege was Gloria Berryman, a young woman from Huntly. She was an excellent athlete who went on to represent New Zealand in touch and to play netball for Waikato.

The concept of assisting in the development of young athletes is valuable for the mentors and for the proteges.

On its website, Air NZ says: "Like all New Zealanders, Air New Zealand was inspired by the medal-winning performances of Hamish Carter, Sarah Ulmer and Bevan Docherty at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Similarly, Claudia Rieglers performance at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, captured our imagination."

The company thought it would be great if those stars could share with the next generation insights into what they had learned and how they stayed motivated.

"These athletes have come together to do just that with the Inspiring New Zealanders scholarships."

This type of private sector support is vital, given the Government's limited coffers.

The first eight winners of scholarships are:

* Long jumper and sprinter Jessica Penney, whose goal is to emulate her mentor, Ulmer, by bringing home medals from Commonwealth and Olympic Games.

* New Zealand champion snowboarder Phillip Dominick, whose dream is to compete at the next Winter Olympics, an area in which mentor Riegler has much experience.

* Swimmer Cara Baker, whose dream since she was seven has been to represent New Zealand at the 2008 Olympic Games. Carter, her mentor, is likely to provide plenty of inspiration.

* The 800m and 1500m runner Alice Webster, who is inspired by meeting other top athletes at national meets and who has Docherty as part of her team.

* Triathlete Nicky Samuels, who in 2003 swapped a hockey stick for swimwear, running gear and a bike and immediately showed her natural talent by placing second in an international triathlon event and who too has Docherty as part of her team.

* Top 30 World Cup alpine ski racer Timothy Cafe will be looking to Riegler for guidance and inspiration.

* Triathlete Andrea Hewitt, who last year became the under-23 world champion, has set her sights on winning an Olympic Gold medal. If she manages that and in doing so will emulate Carter's great win in the Athens Olympics.

* The 2005 junior world track champion cyclist Sam Bewley, who now must make the transition into the senior grade where he hopes to represent New Zealand at the World Champs and Commonwealth Games. He will be mentored by Olympic champion Ulmer.

Applications for this year's scholarships open on September 1

I am sure that the Inspiring New Zealanders initiative will, in time, prove that mixing those at the top with those on their way up is the best way to ensure our country's continued excellence in sport.