In 2005, as part of London’s offer to the International Olympic Committee, Lord Sebastian Coe, Chairman of London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG), promised that if London was awarded the 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games it would be a priority 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”. That promise is now becoming a reality.
International Inspiration is a ground-breaking project, developed by a unique alliance of organisations UK Sport, the Government’s international sports agency, the British Council with our expertise in delivering on the international dimension in education, and UNICEF, the world’s largest organisation working specifically for children and children’s rights and the pioneer of sport for development within the United Nations system.
The partners are working across various countries to develop sports through various work strands which are
- Physical education and school links
- Sport development
- Development of children in schools and communities through sport
- Sporting excellence
The programme aims to transform the lives of millions of children and young people in schools and communities in countries across the globe through the power of sport. The focus is on the preparation, planning, early implementation and learning during the initial year of programme activity.
On 21 January 2008 Prime Minister Gordon Brown launched International Inspiration in India. Speaking at the launch he said that, “International Inspiration will use the power of sport to transform the lives of millions of children and young people in schools and communities in countries across the globe. It will seek not only to help deliver the ambitions promised in Singapore but also to lay the foundations for a long term international legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It’s a programme of which I am immensely proud, and the work going on here in India is a testament to its importance.”
This is the first time in the history of the Games that an international legacy on this scale has been conceived and launched. Working with practitioners such as the Youth Sport Trust and Right To Play, the combined reach and credibility of the programme partners is unprecedented and will enable International Inspiration to be a catalyst for change from at every level from ministries to local communities. International Inspiration is already seeing success in all five countries in which it is working. India is the greatest in scope of the five Phase One countries and has already contributed to increased understanding of the role that sport can play at policy level. Other countries are Azerbaijan, Palau, Zambia and Brazil.
The Indian Government is in the process of formulating a Comprehensive National Sport Policy which recognises that sports, education and health are intrinsically linked and together contribute to youth development in a holistic manner.
The British Council’s work sits at the heart of International Inspiration. It builds international partnerships between education and sport reformers, teachers and young people. These partnerships will enable many more young people to access physical education and sport and improve their lives as a result of that. The project will build the UK’s reputation as a source of expertise and international partner for skills development in sport and education.
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