INDEPENDENT NEWS

Sports Excellence Service ……. On The Move!!

Published: Mon 8 Jul 2002 11:42 AM
Sports Excellence Service ....... On The Move!!
Mobile Sports Performance Unit : Media Release
New Zealand’s first mobile sports excellence vehicle was launched in Dunedin today by the New Zealand Academy of Sport : South Island.
The Ford transit van has had a purpose fit out to install working areas, equipment and technology to enable the vehicle to operate as a mobile lab, training and analysis station, for athletes and coaches across the South Island.
“The mobile service unit has been developed to enhance the Academy’s capacity to support and provide services to athletes and coaches in the environment where they live and train, as well as provide support for training camps, and specialist events” said CEO Kereyn Smith.
“Based in Dunedin, with a vast area to cover - having talented athletes spread from Takaka in the Tasman area to Tuatapere in Southland, the Academy South Island has had to develop innovative and world leading approaches to distance support. The mobile service unit seemed the logical way to approach our challenges of distance and getting people and specialized equipment out into the field” Smith said.
“The whole focus of the Academy is giving our athletes and coaches an edge in terms of performance and support - the mobile unit will enable us to take another step along that pathway and help us remove some of the barriers of distance. We also believe it will be a real bonus in assisting sports that take place in more remote locations, like winter and adventure sports” explained Kereyn Smith.
The vehicle is only the second of its kind in the southern hemisphere and will have the capacity to provide:
- Performance Support : sports science, medicine, athlete career and education
- Game Analysis : Sports Code and Game Breaker packages
- Skill and Technique Analysis : Silicon Coach, Dartfish, Tiger Shark (aquatic)
- Performance Monitoring : lactate testing, heart rate monitors, timing lights
- Technology Support : cameras, computers, video editing, viewing and filming platform.
The New Zealand Academy: South Island aims to help athletes achieve excellence and success on the national and international stage, through co-ordinating and providing services and programmes to high level and aspiring athletes. Support and advice is available in sports science, medicine athlete career and education areas as well as training support, in conjunction with the athletes sports specific requirements.
The Academy South Island has also led the way in setting up high tech coach/athlete resource centres in Dunedin, Christchurch, with another opening in Invercargill in August. These will compliment the mobile service unit support and ensure South Island wide coverage and service.
The partnership established between the Academy and the Highlanders Rugby franchise which has resulted in sharing of equipment, facilities and expertise - is another first in New Zealand.

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