The rural youth development fund set up by two Yukon Olympians has a new name.

The program will now be known as Northern Lytes (Linking Youth To Elite Sport).

The program, announced by cyclist Zach Bell at last year’s Sport Yukon awards night, provides opportunities to young Yukon athletes to access training from Canada’s Olympic athletes and professional coaches.

The grant is supported by Yukon Olympic cross-country skier Emily Nishikawa, as well as Air North and SmartStop Self Storage – Bell’s current cycling team.

The program’s first initiative was held in Carcross this spring.

It featured a cross-country ski camp led by national team coach and three-time Olympian Justin Wadsworth, and brought out a total of 45 young skiers and 12 coaches looking to improve their skills on snow.

The program’s mission is to connect young athletes with Olympic-level coaches and athletes by hosting training camps in the Yukon. The name Northern Lytes reflects its intent.

The program offers this opportunity to youth in rural communities who would otherwise not have the chance to meet – let alone be coached by – Olympians.

The sport program has been a long-time dream of Bell, a two-time Olympian, who said he was thrilled by the result of the first camp.

“This has been in the works for a while now,” Bell said in a press release yesterday. “It is incredibly exciting to see it becoming a reality. I can’t thank Air North and SmartStop enough for their contributions and believing in the program.”

Camps aim at inspiring youth and guiding them towards achieving their goals in sport.

“The athletes had a fun time, all while learning new skills from a veteran in the sport,” said Nishikawa of the event in Carcross.

“Meeting an Olympian can leave a lasting impression by helping young athletes see that the road to the Olympics is in fact possible. This gives them a better understanding of what their path could be.”

A second camp was staged last month when former Olympic paddler Tom Hall teamed up with former Olympic weightlifter Jeane Lassen on a cross-territory community tour.

Hall, a bronze medallist in 2008, shared important stories about his struggle with learning difficulties as a child and how sport helped him cope.

His main message was to encourage Yukon kids to participate in multi-sport experiences and understand that although their sport of choice may not be available to them now, participating in what is available can lead to bigger and better things.

“It is so amazing to have the support of Yukon Olympians Zach Bell and Emily Nishikawa,” said Lassen, physical literacy co-ordinator for Sport Yukon.

“Even though they are still pursuing their goals in sport, they understand the importance of inspiring the next generation of athletes.

“Northern Lytes allows Yukon youth to interact with national and international athletes and coaches in their own community.

“This is what sport is all about – engaging youth and opening up their minds to a world of possibilities,” Lassen added.

Northern Lytes is possible thanks to a close collaboration with Sport Yukon. Any organization under the Sport Yukon umbrella is eligible to apply for funding.

The deadline for the second round of applications is June 30.

To apply, visit the Sport Yukon website, where more information on the Northern Lytes development fund can be located under the Programs tab.

Applications can also be picked up at the Sport Yukon office, located at 4061 Fourth Avenue in Whitehorse.

Bell recently competed with Team SmartStop in the Quebec-based Tour de Beauce.

Next week, he and two teammates will race in the national road championships in Saint-Georges, Que.