Welcome for school sport boost

A world record attempt to form the largest human Olympic rings was successful during last year's P&G Surrey School Games. Download this photo here.

Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt this week announced a £1 billion plan to use the London 2012 Games to inspire a generation of young people to play sport.

The strategy will focus on encouraging children to take part in sport at school and to continue playing it into adulthood.

Following the government announcement, Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services and the 2012 Games Denise Saliagopoulos said:

“A key part of Jeremy Hunt’s strategy is to get children involved in sport through the School Games. In Surrey we’ve been leading the charge. Last summer, the P&G Surrey School Games saw around 3,500 children take part in 100 days of sport, including athletics, hockey and mountain biking.

“The 2012 Games is an opportunity to help this generation of young people become more active and live healthier lifestyles now and for many years to come. We’ve put in a lot of work to help achieve this, and we’ll continue to do so.

“However, it’s not just the School Games that is inspiring people to take up sport. I’ve noticed more cyclists on our roads since it was announced Surrey will host two Olympic cycling events this summer. I’m sure as London 2012 approaches, more and more people will get on their bikes.”

The Government’s new youth sport strategy will be run by Sport England. It will invest at least £1 billion of Lottery and Exchequer funding to help ensure that young people are regularly playing sport and continue to do so into adult life.

ENDS

For more information contact Surrey County Council senior media relations officer James Oxley on 0208 541 7259.

Notes to editors

For more information on Surrey’s involvement in London 2012, visit www.gosurrey.info