New Olympic-style competition launched for schoolchildren

June 30 2010

A new Olympic and Paralympic-style sports competition has been launched by the government in bid to encourage more students to take up competitive activities.

Up to £10 million of lottery funding will be used to create a league structure for primary and secondary schools.

"Competitive sport – whether you win or lose – teaches young people great lessons for life. It encourages teamwork, dedication and striving to be the best that you can be," said Jeremy Hunt, secretary of state for culture, Olympics, media and sport.

Speaking at the launch of the new initiative, education secretary Michael Gove said it is important to revive competitive sport in schools, adding that fewer than one in five pupils compete regularly against pupils from other areas.

In a recent poll carried out as part of National School Sports Week, 57 per cent of youngsters said the fact that the next Olympic Games is taking place in the UK will inspire them to get involved in new activities.

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