More cash for Olympic youth plan

By Matt Slater

2012 organisers want to encourage youngsters to play more sport

A London 2012 programme to promote sport for youngsters around the globe, particularly in developing countries, has received a timely boost.

Five more countries and £16m in funding have been added to the ambitious "International Inspiration" project.

The scheme hopes to reach 12 million children in 20 countries by 2012.

"Our vision is to use the Games to inspire change - changing lives is the driving force behind our plans," said London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe.

"We took a clear promise to Singapore (where London won the right to stage the Games in 2005) to encourage the world's youth to choose sport. This announcement is another key step towards delivering that promise."

The legacy programme, a key plank in London's vote-winning pledge to use the Games to raise participation in sport, was launched by Prime Minister Gordon Brown in India in January 2008.

Joining India in the first wave of countries were Azerbaijan, Brazil, Palau and Zambia.

Among the individual schemes launched under the "International Inspiration" umbrella are a national physical education programme for rural schools in India, a plan to boost access to sports events and facilities in north-east Brazil and a sport-for-all drive in Azerbaijan.

'Worthwhile endeavour'

The five new countries are Bangladesh, Ghana, Jordan, Mozambique and Trinidad and Tobago, and the additional funding is comprised of £5.4m from the Department for International Development and a match-funding commitment from the British Council of £10.2m.

This tops up the £9m already invested by those two backers and the Department of Media, Culture and Sport, the Premier League and Unicef.

The ground-breaking scheme, which is being directed by the funding agency UK Sport, has been warmly received by Olympic bosses.

"When Seb Coe and London 2012 made their final presentation to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Singapore, one of their commitments was that they would inspire the youth of the world," said Denis Oswald, the chairman of the IOC's coordination commission for London 2012.

"This project is one way London 2012 is living up to that promise and the IOC is delighted to be able to support them in this worthwhile endeavour."