By Phil Harlow & Elizabeth Hudson

Redgrave and Grey Thompson are two of Britain's most successful athletes

Olympic and Paralympic stars Sir Steve Redgrave and Dame Tanni Grey Thompson will act as mentors to a new generation of British talent.

Gymnast Beth Tweddle and 5,000m runner Mo Farah are among the 16 athletes selected for the 18-month programme.

The athletes, who will receive financial help towards training costs, will be able to call on Redgrave and Grey Thompson's extensive experience.

"Hopefully I can stop them making the mistakes I made," said Grey Thompson.

"We've experienced most things, and can be there as a shoulder to cry on.

"It's not about being part of their day-to-day coaching, but maybe being able to give them that extra few percent that can make all the difference."

Grey Thompson won 16 medals as a wheelchair racer from five Paralympics, including 11 golds, while Redgrave won five consecutive Olympic gold medals in rowing.

TEAM VISA MEMBERS: Hopefuls: Mo Farah (athletics); Caitlin McClatchey (swimming); Richard Kruse (fencing); Fiona Pennie (canoeing); John McFall; Libby Clegg (both Paralympic track); Paul Goodison (sailing); Beth Tweddle (gymnastics) Apprentices: Natasha Baker (Paralympic dressage); Helen Freeman (wheelchair basketball); Darius Knight; Paul Drinkhall (both table tennis); Chris Adcock; Gabby White (both badminton); Aaron Cook (taekwondo); Tom Daley (diving)

Redgrave added: "I looked at a variety of different sports when I was trying to make the breakthrough.

"There was nothing like this for me, but I would have loved it if there had been.

"Mixing sports really broadens the horizons."

The 16 athletes in the scheme, known as Team Visa, have been divided into "Hopefuls" - whose hopes are initially centred on the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing - and "Apprentices" with their eye on the 2012 London Olympics.

"Hopefuls" have been partnered with "Apprentices" in an effort to share training and motivational tips across different sports and disciplines.

European Championship silver medallist Farah, for instance, has been "buddied" with 17-year-old table tennis player Darius Knight.

"It's a huge honour to be on this scheme," Farah told BBC Sport.

"To meet very special people like Steve and Tanni is amazing. They've been there and done it and to get the chance to find out little nuggets from them is great.

"I remember staying up late during the 2000 Olympics to cheer Steve on, so to be able to go to him for advice now is brilliant."

Wheelchair basketball player Helen Freeman has been paired with swimmer Caitlin McClatchey, who has already won Commonwealth gold in Melbourne and competed at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

"To be involved in this scheme is fantastic for me," admitted Freeman, who is hoping to be part of the Great Britain team for the European Wheelchair Basketball Championships in August in Germany.

A third-placed finish for GB at the tournament will secure a place for the team at the Beijing Paralympics next year.

"The mentoring element is very important and even though Caitlin and I are involved in different sports, it's great to be able to talk through our experiences and learn from each other," she added.

The programme will be reassessed after 18 months, although the athletes stressed that no specific targets had been set in terms of medals or performances.

Athletes were selected by a panel including Redgrave, Grey Thompson and sponsors' representatives after being put forward by their respective sport's national governing body.