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The PYA is now only the third ISAF Member National Authority (MNA) to benefit from this funding through the IOC World Programme for Coaches (number 8).

Dan Jaspers, ISAF Training and Development Manager said of this latest funding success, "The DNSS Programme represents the highest level of Olympic Solidarity funding available for our National Federations and having worked on the Polish application with the PYA it gives me huge pleasure to see them achieve this result. I had previously thought that this Olympic year would be relatively quiet as far as these kinds of programmes are concerned but I am very happy that I was wrong.

"The continued support by not only the IOC but the NOCs that are making it possible for ISAF Member Nations to grow the sport continues to amaze me. I hope that more of our members see this and make the move towards making their own applications for similar activity. I look forward to seeing the Polish delegation at our upcoming Development Symposium in Ireland and them sharing their story with other members."

The IOC application from the PYA stated that:

The Polish Yachting Association has recently established a long term strategy to promote and increase participation in sailing especially focusing on youth and development issues. This is closely linked with the ISAF direction on the following aspects of development:

- Encouraging a wider audience with particular emphasis on young people.
- Supporting education, training and development programmes.
- Supporting coaching and instructing profession mainly on youth sailing level.
- Developing structural base for youth sailing.

The Polish Yachting Association action plan outlines key areas for development:

- To establish strategy on developing national sailing structure.
- To support regions, sailing clubs and other organizations in increasing number of participants mostly at youth level.
- To encourage local communities in establishing mid and long term projects developing sailing based on schools (additional lessons, linking with yacht clubs, certifications etc).
- To develop a talent identification programme for potential Olympic sailors.
- To invest and to develop coaching and instructing programmes.
- To invest in new sailing centres and to develop existing ones.

The IOC guidelines for the DNSS applications state clearly:

Objectives - The development of sport in certain countries is often hindered by the fact that the national sport and coaching structure is disorganised or even non-existent. The main objective of this programme is therefore to allow NOCs to develop their national sports and coaching structure by implementing a mid to long-term action plan for a specific sport.

Beneficiaries - All National Olympic Committees recognized by the IOC may benefit from this programme with priority given to those NOCs which can demonstrate that the basic sports coaching structure is weak but has a clear potential for development.

Description - NOCs will be offered the opportunity to receive an expert from abroad for a specific period of time averaging between 3-6 months. NOCs are encouraged to take advantage of projects elaborated by Olympic Scholarship Holders during their training abroad.

Each National Olympic Committee (NOC) can apply for 1 of these Programmes per year across all sports which means that there is much competition from other National Sport Federations. The successful federations will complete the programme with constant monitoring from the International Sailing Federation as well as their NOC.

For more information on all Training and Development programmes as well as up to date news go to the dedicated pages of the ISAF website - www.sailing.org/training

Contact the Training and Development Department here.