Press release 19 May 2009

PUPILS PLAYING THEIR PART IN LONDON 2012’S INTERNATIONAL LEGACY

London 19 May 2009 Seb Coe will see first hand how London 2012’s international legacy programme for children and young people, International Inspiration, is already changing lives when he visits Dukeries College in Nottinghamshire today.

Launched by Prime Minister Gordon Brown in India last year, International Inspiration uses the power of sport to change the lives of children and young people around the world. From Azerbaijan to Zambia, International Inspiration empowers young people, many in difficult situations in their countries, to become leaders in their schools and communities, building their confidence and self esteem, as well as encouraging them to realise their ambition and full potential. They then become powerful advocates for change, helping others to improve their lives.  

Dukeries is one of a cluster of twelve Nottinghamshire schools partnered with schools in Brazil through International Inspiration. Fifteen year old Oliver Dawson-Hill from Tuxford School had difficulties at school but after sports leadership training has become a more confident, helping younger students with rugby coaching.

Oliver said “Seeing what things were like in Brazil made me realise I took a lot of things for granted - taking part in International Inspiration has made me more helpful and I enjoy sharing my skills with other students”

School partnerships are an integral part of International Inspiration, providing an opportunity for teachers, children and young people to develop and share innovative approaches to PE, sport and play in the classroom and their local community as well as learn about and understand each other’s cultures, experiences and international development issues.

During the visit to Dukeries College, Seb Coe will take part in a live video link up between the British and Brazilian partner schools and students will have an opportunity to ask him questions on his own Olympic experience as well as the London 2012 international legacy programme.

Seb Coe Chair of London 2012 said: “Our vision is to use the power of the Games to inspire change – and changing lives is the driving force behind our plans. We took a very clear promise to Singapore – to encourage the youth of the world to choose sport – and Nottinghamshire’s involvement is another key step towards delivering that promise. Sport can be a great force for good, and the International Inspiration programme will play a real role in improving the lives of young people around the world through sport.”  

For media enquiries on International Inspiration please contact James Rowe at the British Council on 020 7389 4939 james.rowe@britishcouncil.org

Notes to editors

International Inspiration is a programme which aims to use the power of sport to transform the lives of millions of children and young people of all abilities, in schools and communities across the world, particularly in developing countries, through the power of high quality and inclusive physical education, sport and play.

Delivery is led by UK Sport, in partnership with the British Council and UNICEF.  The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Premier League are key partners providing funding and other support, and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), the British Olympic Foundation and the British Paralympic Association are also central to the programme, with International Inspiration forming a core strand of the international social legacy of London 2012. Delivery in country is supported by UK expertise from the Youth Sport Trust and by local implementing partners and the National Olympic Committee and National Paralympic Committee in each country.

Delivering the ambitions promised by the London bid team in Singapore, the programme aims 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 and to see millions more young people across the world participating in sport and improving their lives as a result ’.

Already making a difference to young people’s lives, with £25 million of funding committed, projects are underway in eight countries: Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Brazil, India, Jordan, Mozambique, Palau and Zambia.  Projects are also due to start in Ghana and Trinidad and Tobago with planning underway for a further number of countries to start activity this year. The aspiration is to reach 12 million children in 20 countries by 2012.

International Inspiration has received the formal support of the International Olympic Committee as an international legacy programme for the London 2012 Games.

For more information, visit www.uksport.gov.uk/internationalinspiration