A SCHEME to help the area's national athletes has been launched by West Devon Borough Council in association with Leisure Connection.
The FANS (Free Access for National Sportspeople) scheme provides sportspeople of a national level free access to sport and leisure facilities for personal training and development.
All of West Devon's leisure centres, which are managed by Leisure Connection, will operate the scheme.
The FANS scheme is open to West Devon's elite sportspeople of all ages who currently compete at a national level in any sport recognised by Sport England.
People interested in applying also need to be a resident for the majority of the year in the borough of West Devon or currently listed in the top ten of any national age group ranking in a sport recognised by Sport England.
The FANS scheme is an important sports development initiative which aims to provide support and encouragement to the borough's leading talented and elite sports people.
Sportspeople will be able to have free access to facilities at the Parklands Leisure Centre and Meadowlands Swimming Pool.
Phil Jones, West Devon contract manager for Leisure Connection said: 'We are pleased to offer this scheme across our centres in West Devon and help support some of the county's top sports people.
'The Great Britain Olympic team were outstanding at the Beijing Olympics and with continued support we hope that tomorrow's athletes will perform just as well.
'The cost of training is a major consideration for top athletes, especially those who lack sponsorship, so we are pleased that we can help this situation.'