NOC presents “Notice The Next Generation” youth talents team 2018

10.05.2018
Back
10.05.2018

Estonian Olympic Committee (NOC) announced the names of the NOC's “Notice The New Generation” youth talents team 2018, which includes 32 young athletes and 31 coaches representing 28 sports. The team includes such talents as Anett Kontaveit (tennis), Kelly Sildaru (freestyle-skiing), Kristjan Ilves (Nordic combined), Marie Turmann (curling), Kregor Zirk (swimming) and many other young Estonian talents.

The names on the 2018 team of the “Notice the Next Generation” project were announced in the Estonian History Museum in Maarjamäe Palace, Tallinn. The team includes young athletes competing in summer and winter Olympic sports as well as non-Olympic sports, team ball games and their coaches.

The core of this year’s next generation team comprises the athletes born in 1995—1998. There is also the “Young and Talented” category for the recognition of the youngest athletes as well as places for the best university athlete, para-athlete and athlete representing Estonian Defence Forces.

The grants for the young athletes amount to a total of 56,000 euros, and the stipends for trainers, 31,000 euros.

The patron of the “Notice the Next Generation” project team in 2018 is bodybuilder Ott Kiivikas. According to Kiivikas, the transition to the adult category can often be difficult and challenging for young athletes. 

“Competition among adults is far fiercer than in the youth categories. Proving oneself and reaching the goals one has established can take time. This is the period when recognition and support are important factors for young athletes to help them keep striving for the top. It is essential to know that you are not alone and that someone believes in you. This is what inspires you to move on and use your abilities in the best possible way. I am certain that being a part of the “Notice the Next Generation” project will provide the support these young athletes need, help them build confidence and assure that they are on the right track,” Ott Kiivikas said.

“Notice the Next Generation” team 2018:

Martin Allikvee (swimming), Klen-Kristofer Kaljulaid (judo), Kristin Kuuba and  Helina Rüütel (badminton), Li Lirisman (karate), Karel Tilga (athletics), Anett Kontaveit (tennis), Kenneth Raisma (tennis), Joosep Karlson (canoeing), Marie Turmann (curling), Regina Oja (biathlon), Kristjan Ilves (Nordic combined), Marten Liiv (speed skating), Andres Petrov (snooker), Arida Muru (bodybuilding: bikini fitness), Janno Ligur (rallycross), Viktoria Soodla (powerboating), Doris Kudre (ski-orienteering), Vladislav Žarov (taekwon-do ITF), Kristiine Miilen (volleyball), Ken Pähn (floorball), Tõnis Kase (handball), Jane Svilberg (basketball). The grant holders in ice hockey and football will be determined in the autumn of 2018.

The young talent grants were awarded to Kelly Sildaru (freestyle skiing), Kregor Zirk (swimming), Mai Narva (chess), Kevin Saar (motorcycle sport). The special grant for the Estonian Defence Forces representative was awarded to Reino Velleste (Olympic skeet), and the university athlete’s special grant went to Mattias Kuusik (judo). The para-athlete’s grant was awarded to Matz Topkin (swimming).

Trainers’ stipends were received by the athletes' coaches: Dmitri Kapelin, Vladimir Stepanjan, Mart Siliksaar, Aleksandr Zõkov, Jaan Tiitsaar, Glenn Schaap, Andres Kuhi, Imre Pulai, Harri Lill, Ilkka Luttunen, Andrus Ilves, Väino Treiman, Boriss Petrov, Ott Kiivikas, Jaanus Ligur, Üllar Põvvat, Raul Kudre, Oleg Kim, Merle Keerutaja, Risto Lall, Kalmer Musting, Reet Rausberg, Tõnis Sildaru, Kaja Haljaste, Kaido Külaots, Andrus Saar, Õnne Pollisinski, Peeter Päkk and Andres Põhjala.

According to the project manager of the “Notice the Next Generation” project team Natalja Inno, the development of youth high-performance sport is certainly among one of NOC’s priorities. “In developing junior sports, the Estonian Olympic Committee aims to contribute to the development of the next generation of Estonian top-class athletes by noticing, educating and supporting the young. Our activities for supporting young athletes and their trainers do not stop at financing. The training course program “Release your tiger!” launched in 2017 is another opportunity for supporting the development of young athletes, which aims to provide talented juniors with the broad knowledge and skills they will need for a break-through and spark motivation for striving to top performance.”

Grants awarded to the core members of the next generation team amount to 2000 euros each, and special grants as well as coaches’ grants are 1000 euros each. The athletes’ grants have been allocated by the NOC while trainers’ grants have been provided by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia. The grants for the best university athlete, para-athlete and athlete representing the Defence Forces as well as their trainers have been financed by a sponsoring company, Estiko.

The Estonian Olympic Committee launched the “Notice the Next Generation” project in 2013. During the last six years, the total financing provided to talented young athletes and their coaches in the project has amounted to 450,000 euros.