An initiative aimed at helping retired professional athletes to secure employment after their careers have ended has been launched by the Spanish Olympic Committee ©COE

An initiative aimed at helping retired professional athletes to secure employment after their careers have ended has been launched by the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE).

The scheme, entitled "Train Your Future", has been implemented by the COE in conjunction with healthcare company Sanitas.

The COE said Olympic handball bronze medallist Eli Pinedo and former hockey player Bárbara Malda had been the first athletes to sign up to the programme, which the National Olympic Committee claims will give athletes the opportunity to "integrate into the work environment".

Pinedo, a member of the Spanish team which finished third at London 2012, and Malda have joined Sanitas, part of the BUPA international healthcare group.

The scheme was launched by the COE this week ©COE
The scheme was launched by the COE this week ©COE

"After we finish our careers, a period of uncertainty opens up, which in our case has been resolved thanks to the opportunity of Sanitas," said Malda.

"Supporting the sport is to support athletes during their sporting career but also after it."

COE President Alejandro Blanco welcomed the launch of the scheme and praised Sanitas for its involvement.

"Our athletes demonstrate every day in training and competitions that have a capacity for work, sacrifice, dedication and responsibility that puts them in value when they leave high level competition and face the world of work," he said.

"And Sanitas has all that potential in mind."