Both schools were picked up by the DOSB, the Ministry of Culture of the State of Baden-Württemberg and the Savings Banks Finance Group, a partner of the DOSB.

The Otto-Hahn-Gymnasium in Karlsruhe will focus on the sports of canoeing, gymnastics and table tennis while the Ludwig-Frank-Gymnasium and integrated Gesamtschule in Mannheim will cover hockey, athletics, figure skating, canoeing, handball and gymnastics.

Both schools will form long-term partnerships with the Olympic training centre of the Rhine-Neckar, according to the DOSB.

"The title of elite school of sport is characterised [by] binding rules in favour of the demands of [each sport]," said Christa Thiel, vice-president of the DOSB.

"The focus of the work [is] on children and young people who bring talent and willingness to take on the double burden [of] school and sport.

"In them lies a high total load of up to 35 hours per week school and up to 30 hours per week [sport].

"[These programmes are needed] and worthy of support."

The elite school of sport programme is aimed at developing the next generation of Olympic medal winners ©Getty Images



The centres in Karlsruhe and Mannheim bring the total number involved in the programme up to 43, while more than 100 further comprehensive and secondary schools have partnerships with the main centres.

Currently, more than 11,500 students are involved in the programme which coordinates the "dual career" of future elite athletes.

It aims to allow talented athletes to pursue their athletic career while also providing them with high quality academic education, claims the DOSB.

The elite school of sport initiative has provided 32 of the 85 athletes named to the Germany team for the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games, which are due to get underway later this month on August 16 and run through until August 28.

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