As the Beijing Olympics draw closer, ten potential Australian Olympians have today received a financial boost to their preparations for the games.

The Greater Building Society Sport Scholarships are awarded annually to athletes who show tremendous potential in their chosen sport. They are managed by the Hunter Academy of Sport.

This year four new athletes received a scholarship and six scholarships were renewed. The scholarships were presented by Hunter Academy of Sport executive officer Ken Clifford and Greater Building Society chairman Ian Nelmes.

New recipients include 24 year-old member of the world champion Australian women's basketball team Jennifer Screen, 17 year-old trampolinist and diver, Ty Swadling, and 21 year-old rower Hugh McLeod.

Maitland brother and sister triathletes Brendan and Melanie Sexton were both awarded scholarships as was the current national Under 13 national champion in both Gymnastics and Diving, Jack Rickards.

Each athlete receives $1,000 as well as advice from Hunter Academy of Sport consultants in areas such as sports psychology, nutrition, physical fitness, injury prevention and injury treatment.

Mr Clifford said the depth of sporting talent in the Hunter is very strong but athletes need support to reach their potential.

Three of the 2005 scholarship winners, Mathew Helm, Olivia Gollan and Prue Watt successfully represented Australia at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games this year.

Mr Nelmes said the Greater had been supporting the scholarships for 14 years.

"On behalf of our members we are proud to help Australian athletes realise their dream of going for gold," Mr Nelmes said.

2006-07 Greater Building Society Sport Scholarship Winners

Angie Bainbridge - 16 years - Swimming (Merewether)

Has been invited to train under Shannon Rollason, Australian head coach at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. NSW Short Course Champion for open 100-200 metres freestyle. Won two gold medals at the Australian Short Course championships in August 2006. 2006 Australian champion in the 200 and 400 metres freestyle.

Karyne Di Marco - 28 years - Track and Field - Hammer Throw (Kellyville, Sydney)

Achieved top 50 ranking in the world. Fourth at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. Second at the 2005-06 Australian Championships. NSW Champion in 2005-06.

Hugh McLeod - 21 years - Rowing (Hamilton)

Won bronze in the lightweight quad sculls at the World Championships in Belgium. Elected team leader of the Under 23 Australian Team. Achieved fifth place in the Lightweight Single Scull and third place in the Lightweight Double Scull at the Australian National Championships in Tasmania.

Nathan Outteridge - 20 years - Sailing (Wangi Wangi)

Winner of all the major international regattas hosted in Australia including Sail Brisbane, Sydney International Regatta and Sail Melbourne. Sixth at the World Championships. Has been given a place in the Australian Sailing Team, which will put him in a good position for next year's final Olympic qualification events.

Jack Rickards - 13 years - Gymnastics and Diving (Cardiff)

Holds the Australian titles in both Gymnastics and Diving in the Under 13 years Elite Division. Defended his third consecutive title at the Australian National Gymnastics Championship returning with eight gold medals. Won three individual events at the National Junior Elite Diving Championships and was named Australian Male under 13 years Elite Diver of the Year for the second time. His goals are to focus on gymnastics and to gain international experience in that sport.

Ryan Rowland Smith - 23 years- Baseball (Newcastle)

Member of the Australian team from 2000-2006 including at the 2006 World Championships. Played US minor league baseball A level with the Seattle Mariners. Finalist in the 2005 Newcastle City Council Sportsperson of the Year Awards.

Jennifer Screen- 24 years- Basketball (Hamilton South)

Member of the current Australian 2006 World Title winning team. Member of the Opals at the four nations tournament in 2005-2006. Played for Adelaide Lightning, finalists in the 2006 National Basketball League.

Brendon Sexton - 21 years - Triathlon (Louth Park)

Member of the Australian team at the 2006 World Championships in Switzerland. Achieved fifteenth place at the World Championships, 29th place at the World Cup in the United Kingdom, eighth place in race three at the French Grand Prix Series and third place in the 2006 Oceania Championships.

Melanie Sexton - 18 years - Triathlon (Louth Park)

Member of the Australian Junior Triathlon Team in 2003, 2004, 2005. Came fourth in the World Junior Championships in New Zealand in 2003. Finished 16th in Portugal in 2004 and third in Japan in 2005. Australian Junior Champion in 2005 and Australian Junior Female Triathlete of the Year in both 2004 and 2005.

Ty Swadling - 17 years - Trampoline Sports and Diving (Charlestown)

Represented Australia at the Indo Pacific Trampoline Sports Championship in South Africa in July where he came first in three events. State team leader at the National Trampoline Competition. Competed at the National Levels in September receiving two first places. Represented Australia in the 2005 World Championships in the Netherlands, achieving a world ranking of 15.