(12/11/2004)

Double Olympic champion Kelly Holmes plans to help groom talented youngsters from South Africa townships

Kelly Holmes has spoken of new plans to help unearth talented youngsters from South Africa townships.

Britain's double Olympic champion is currently training 16 young British and South African female athletes at the Norwich Union 'On Camp with Kelly' in the north-west provincial town of Potchefstroom.

The 34-year-old told reporters: "I want to go into the townships and give the kids from there the opportunity to develop their abilities.

"I'd like to go into the townships and some of the under-privileged schools in the area to identify some of the talent there, motivate them and give the teachers some ideas about some things they could do with the kids in PE lessons.

"It's about getting them motivated and more involved. There's a lack of opportunities but there's such a lot of talent to be tapped. I really want to get more involved with South African athletics."

"They've got no grass roots structure but when I've seen local kids who've come down to training, they've got immense talent but never get the opportunity to show it, she added."

Her plan has received major backing of the South African sporting community and other international stars.

South Africa's first black Olympic medallist after the country was re-admitted after apartheid, Atlanta 1996 800m silver medallist Hezekiel Sepeng said it was ‘a marvellous idea’.

Sepeng, who was born in the nearby township of Boskop, said: "There are massive amounts of talent within them and if it is nurtured properly, I am sure future world class stars will emerge.

"What Kelly has achieved here is an example of how a properly coordinated camp can fetch the best out of both the British and South African youngsters who have attended."

Kelly is on the last lap of her camping experiment where she has been training with eight British and eight South African middle distance talents.