• Legacy programme to get 10,000 young people across Lancashire playing sport
  • Chance to win London 2012 tickets for those who remain regular participants

Thousands of teenagers and young adults across Lancashire are to benefit from a new sports programme that aims to fulfil the legacy promise made by Seb Coe in Singapore in 2005 to 'inspire young people to choose sport'.

Sportivate will give 14- to 25-year-olds the chance to receive six to eight weeks of coaching in a sport of their choice. Launched by Sport England and Lancashire Sport Partnership today, the £32 million National Lottery-funded project will help those who aren't currently playing sport in their own time to get out and give sport a go.

As part of the Places People Play mass participation legacy programme, Sportivate will see 300,000 teenagers and young adults across England completing sports courses over four years.

Thanks to £903,760 of Lottery investment in Lancashire, at least 10,000 local people will be able to take part in activities such as:

  • Women and Girls Racketball in Hyndburn - There are currently no opportunities for young people to participate in a club environment and no opportunities to receive Racketball coaching. England Squash and Racketball are currently focusing on 16 plus participation and are keen to develop opportunities in Hyndburn.
  • Disability Cycling Project in Burnley - In partnership with Ridgewood SEN School in Burnley, Cycling Projects will deliver an inclusive cycling programme. The programme will target young people disabled people from schools and colleges.
  • Junior Cricket League in Blackburn - There is growing interest and demand of Cricket in many areas of Blackburn, such as, Audley, Queens Park, Whalley Range, Bank top and Little Harwood. Research conducted at Audley Community Centre and Whalley Range has indicated that Cricket was one of the top 3 sports most young people would like to play (the others being Football and Basketball).

Sport England's Chief Executive, Jennie Price, said: "Lots of young people think sport isn't for them. I would like them to have the chance to discover whether there is a sport they really enjoy, so this programme is all about choice. Everyone who takes part will receive high quality coaching - giving them the confidence and skills which will make them want to keep playing in the future."

Today's announcement was welcomed by the Minister for Sport and the Olympics, Hugh Robertson MP, and Commonwealth Games medalist, Zoë Smith.

Hugh Robertson: "This £32 million Lottery programme launched by Sport England will give hundreds of thousands of teenagers and young adults across the country the opportunity to try out and get coached in the sport of their choice. I'm sure these same young people will also be inspired when the world's greatest athletes compete here at next summer's Olympic and Paralympic Games and will then want to stay involved in sport for many years to come."

Zoë Smith became the youngest ever weightlifting Commonwealth medalist when she won bronze at the 2010 Delhi Games at the age of 16. Zoë, who now has her sights set on competing at London 2012, said: "Getting the chance to get out and try a new sport is fantastic. I didn't take up my sport until I was 12, so it just shows if you're up for some fun and trying something new, you can find a sport you really want to stick with."

Lancashire Sport Partnership will work with local providers and sports clubs to help 14- to 25-year-olds in Lancashire to continue playing sport long after they have completed the course.

As an additional, teenagers and young adults who stick with sport will have the chance to enter a ballot for free London 2012 tickets. Sport England has hundreds of Olympic and Paralympic tickets available for Sportivate participants via the London 2012 Ticketshare initiative.

In order to be eligible for London 2012 Ticketshare, participants will need to complete the sports course, missing no more than one session, and then continue to participate in sport for at least three months.

Sportivate is an inclusive programme that will create opportunities for disabled and non-disabled participants.

For further information on Sportivate in Lancashire please click here.