The International Olympic Committee (IOC) awarded the Olympic Solidarity Athlete Scholarships to Martin Ward in boxing, Francesca Jones in rhythmic gymnastics, Stevan Walton in shooting and Peter Kirkbride in weightlifting.

The four attended a workshop at the British Olympic Association (BOA) headquarters in London this week where chief executive and Team GB Chef de Mission Andy Hunt and BOA director of sport SIr Clive Woodward advised them how to make the most of their scholarship.

They also emphasised the importance of competing in line with the Olympic values of friendship, excellence and respect.

The aspiring Olympians also had the opportunity to ask questions and gain insights and experience from three seasoned Olympic athletes who are now working for the BOA: Ben Hunt-Davis, a former rower who won a gold medal at Sydney in 2000, Georgina Harland, the 2004 Athens modern pentathlon bronze medallist, and Bernie Cotton, who played for Britain's hockey team at Munich in 1972 and coached them to the gold medal at Seoul in 1988. 

Three of the four athletes showed their potential by winning medals at the recent Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

Shooter Walton claimed gold in both the individual and the pairs men's double trap competitions, while weightlifter Kirkbride took silver in the 94kg category and Jones secured silver for Wales in the hoop element of the rhythmic gymnastics competition.

Featherweight boxer Ward also enjoyed a successful 2010, becoming English champion, building on his European Youth gold medal in 2009.

"The Olympic Solidarity funding is a very welcome boost to the athletes concerned and will help to ensure they have access to the necessary training and preparation on their journey to 2012," said Hunt.

"In the current financial climate, every little helps and we are pleased that the IOC has agreed with our recommendation for these athletes to receive support."

Walton said: "I found out I was going to get the scholarship before I departed for the Commonwealth Games and it took a great weight off my mind and allowed me to really focus on the job in hand.

"It certainly helped towards winning my two gold medals by relieving stress.

"The funding will help by enabling me to do more intensive training.

"I'm going for Olympic gold in London 2012."

The individual Athlete Scholarship awards are in addition to the Olympic Solidarity Team Support Grant awarded to the Britain men's handball team to support their entry into the 2012 European Championships, which was announced in October 2009.