The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) today announced that International Inspiration, its international legacy programme, has reached 10.8 million children and young people around the world.
Seb Coe, Chair of LOCOG, said: 'I am thrilled to announce that the International Inspiration programme has reached over 10 million children and young people. This is a fantastic achievement and means that more than 15 months out from the London 2012 Games we are well on our way to achieving our vision to reach 12 million children and young people in 20 countries.
‘I have been lucky enough to meet some of the young people being reached through International Inspiration and to have seen how the programme is providing them with more opportunities in life. Sport can be a real change for good and I'm very proud that London 2012 is enabling this to happen to millions of young people around the world.'
International Inspiration is bringing to life the promise made by the London 2012 bid team where they pledged to reach young people all around the world and connect them to the inspirational power of the Games so they are inspired to choose sport.
The programme works with local communities, teachers, coaches and governments to improve children’s lives and give them the chance to take part in sport and play. Through sport, young people learn how to become leaders, be positive role models and inspire their peers.
Specific achievements of the programme to date include: 80,000 children in Bangladesh being taught survival swimming in a country where thousands of children drown annually; 1.5 million young people and their families in Zambia being involved with awareness-raising projects that encourage children to discuss issues such as HIV and AIDS and 67,000 schools in India adopting a new teacher resource allowing millions of children to take part in high-quality PE.
International Inspiration is London 2012’s official international sports legacy programme which aims to use the power of physical education, sport and play to enrich the lives of millions of children and young people of all abilities in twenty countries across the world. The key delivery partners for International Inspiration are UK Sport, UNICEF and British Council.