A new international sport for development charity, International Inspiration (IN), has been launched at the July 15th Beyond London 2012 Awards in City Hall, London.
Through the London 2012 “International Inspiration Programme” IN had already reached over 15 million children and young people in over 20 countries around the world through the power of sport – developing leadership skills, promoting better health, achieving greater inclusion and widening access to education.
IN will continue to bring into reality the ‘Singapore Vision’ by building upon its flagship initiative ‘International Inspiration’, which won widespread praise from the International Olympic Committee. The charity will focus on increasing opportunities for children, young people and marginalised groups across the world to access, enjoy and develop from physical education, sport and play, whilst ensuring that its initiatives are sustainable and leave a lasting legacy.
The chair of IN, Lord Sebastian Coe, marked the launch at City Hall with a keynote that celebrated the achievements and success stories of London 2012 and International Inspiration, and set out the legacy journey ‘Beyond London 2012’.
Lord Coe, chair of IN, said:
“It is an honour for me, as Chair of International Inspiration, to launch IN at Beyond London 2012. This venture is an opportunity for me, my colleagues on the IN Board, and our friends, partners and supporters around the world, to commit ourselves to making sure that the legacy of London 2012 benefits the youth of the world for many years to come, and that the UK continues to blaze a trail as a global leader in enriching lives through sport for development.”
The Beyond London 2012 Awards showcased a range of organisations, individuals and programmes that utilised London 2012 to trigger positive social change honoured at City Hall.
Debbie Lye, Director of IN, said:
“IN has a fresh post-London 2012 identity and, under Seb’s leadership, will continue engaging, inspiring and empowering young people through sport for many years to come. People ask whether we’re now aiming to reach 20 or 30 million children and young people but IN is about more than big numbers - the real value of IN is that giving more of the most vulnerable children and young people the chance to play and learn though sport enhances their lives.”