Promising young South Island athletes have more opportunity to realise their dreams of representing New Zealand on the world stage.

Applications are now open for next year's NZ Academy of Sport South Island (ASI) Talent Xcelerator programmes across three South Island regions, run from Invercargill, Dunedin and Christchurch.

The ASI has further aligned its regional talent development programmes for next year, in an effort to produce even more South Island athletes capable of winning on the national and international stage.

'Talent Xcelerator' has now been added to the existing names of its three current talent development programmes - Academy Canterbury, Academy Otago and Academy Southland.

ASI Programme Manager Martyn Croy explained these programmes will continue to offer significant assistance to the development of regional talent. "Bringing the three programmes under the Talent Xcelerator "umbrella" allows us to even better fast-track athletes on a performance pathway, increasing their understanding and preparedness for what it takes to be a high performance athlete."

ASI has already seen success in all three of its talent development initiatives since each started, with several current and graduate athletes from the respective South Island programmes emerging nationally and achieving international results, including Jessica Hamill who represented New Zealand in athletics at the Beijing Paralympics

Up-and-coming Academy Canterbury athletes include Sophia Fenwick and Ellen Halpenny (netball), Ruaraidh McLeod and Elizabeth Steele (cycling), Nick Haig and Andy Hayward (hockey), Ali Burnside (rowing), David Ambler, Angie Smit, Hannah Newbold (athletics).

Academy Southland names to watch for include Eddie Dawkins and Tom Scully (cycling), Natalie Wiegersma (swimming), and Anna Rankin and James Eunson (badminton).

The two year programmes provide young athletes with support and services to bridge the gap between promising young sportspersons and the standards required at New Zealand's high performance level. These programmes specifically targets athletes not currently supported through their own National Sporting Organisation's high performance programmes.

Each of the three regional programmes draws on considerable local support and investment, particularly from the Community Trust of Southland, the Otago Community Trust, and The Canterbury Community Trust.

Athletes are selected for inclusion each year on current performance and potential, their ranking, and their future ability to achieve at the highest level within their sport.