Young People Gearing up for Sportivate
Thousands of teenagers and young adults across Lancashire are to benefit from a new sports programme that aims to fulfill 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. Sportivate Lancashire will be launched by 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.
Thanks to £903,760 of Lottery investment over the next four years in Lancashire, at least 10,000 local people will be able to take part in activities such as cycling, boxing, basketball, handball and modern pentathlon.
Sportivate Lancashire was launched with the support of Preston City Council, Young Peoples Services, Wheels for All, Blaze and young people taking part in the 360° Challenge, just one of over a hundred sports projects supported in the first year of Sportivate Lancashire.
Sportivate supported 16 young people on the 360° Challenge by offering a six week cycling coaching programme to gear them up to the challenges of a week long cycle route around Lancashire.
The official launch of Sportivate Lancashire was Sunday 7th August between 12 noon and 2pm when young people from the 360° challenge were welcomed into Preston after completing the community lap of the Preston Grand Prix circuit.
The young people were welcomed into Preston by Olympic Medalist Chris Newton, the Mayor of Preston, British Cycling's Peter Haymes and Adrian Leather from Lancashire Sport Partnership
The launch was also supported by Cycling Projects Wheels for All programme which offers inclusive cycling opportunities with the support of a number of adapted bicycles throughout Lancashire. For a full list of Sportivate Lancashire activities please click here.
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."
For images of the launch please click here
For video footage of the launch please click here