Sporting legacy for 18,000 Londoners
Date: 2 June 2009
More than 18,000 Londoners have tried out different sports through a coaching programme designed to get more people active in the run up to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The London Development Agency’s (LDA) Summer of Sport and Winter of Sport programmes were taken up by more than 8,000 and 10,000 people respectively.
One of the key goals of the project was to increase sports participation among disabled people, and working alongside London Sports Forum for Disabled People the take up rate for this group was 19% - 10% above the current sports participation rate for disabled people in London.
The project, which this year will be part of the Mayor of London’s Play Sport London initiative, funded London sports clubs to put on 229 events where people could turn up and receive expert coaching. Participants were then signposted to similar activities in their area so they could continue playing.
See below for a borough breakdown of activities and participant numbers.
Geoff Newton, LDA Director of Olympic Opportunity, said:
“Helping more than 18,000 people to play sport is a tremendous achievement and for many it was the first time they had received any form of coaching. Around 70% of people received 6 hours or more coaching which means they are far more likely to carry on playing those sports at their local clubs.
“It goes to show that more people are interested in playing sport, but they often need a little support to find out what is on offer in their local area and to try it out themselves. We hope for more of the same with Play Sport London.”
Stewart Lucas CEO of London Sports Forum for Disabled People said:
“Inclusion is at the heart of this project and the 19% participation rate by disabled people shows inclusive activity works. I know the future ‘Play Sport London’ initiative will build on this, and encourage even more disabled people to participate in sport in the capital.”
Sport England previously invested £200,000 in the London Summer of Sport and has recently awarded the London Development Agency £250,000 of National Lottery funding towards Play Sport London.
Hannah Bladen, Sport England's Regional Lead, said:
"The opportunity to try a new sport for the first time is often all a person needs to catch the sporting bug. The London Summer of Sport has been a great way of getting more people to take up sport and have a quality sporting experience that will encourage them to stay involved. We're confident that Play Sport London will build on this success and bring the excitement of sport to more people."
- For more information about this years sport programme visit www.london.gov.uk/playsport
-Ends-
For further information contact the LDA Media Team: Andreas Christophorou 020 7593 8444, LDA out of hours: 07977 439371, Public enquiries: 020 7593 9000
Notes for editors:
- The London Development Agency aims to improve the quality of life for all Londoners - working to create jobs, develop skills and promote economic growth.
- The LDA is interim legacy client for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. For more information visit www.lda.gov.uk or www.legacynow.co.uk
- Link to Sport England’s Active People survey which provides information about sports participation in London http://www.sportengland.org/index/get_resources/research/active_people.htm
- In total, 8404 people took up Summer of Sport and 10,033 Winter of Sport
- Borough by borough breakdown:
Barking and Dagenham – 149 participants, 2 events
Barnet – 1,935 participants, 10 events
Bexley – 2,183 participants, 9 events
Brent - 644 participants, 11 events
Bromley – 582 participants, 8 events
Camden – 137 participants, 1 event
City of London – 100 participants, 3 events
Croydon – 708 participants, 8 events
Ealing – 187 participants, 6 events
Enfield – 414 participants, 13 events
Greenwich – 402 participants, 8 events
Hackney – 1,119 participants, 5 events
Hammersmith and Fulham – 568 participants, 9 events
Haringey – 581 participants, 10 events
Harrow – 47 participants, 1 event
Havering – 207 participants, 3 events
Hillingdon – 24 participants, 2 events
Hounslow – 283 participants, 8 events
Islington – 282 participants, 7 events
Kensington and Chelsea – 73 participants, 0 events
Kingston upon Thames – 227 participants, 5 events
Lambeth – 828 participants, 14 events
Lewisham – 690 participants, 11 events
Merton – 1,040 participants, 7 events
Newham – 1,940 participants, 12 events
Redbridge – 451 participants, 6 events
Richmond upon Thames – 597 participants, 10 events
Southwark – 120 participants, 3 events
Sutton – 322 participants, 6 events
Tower Hamlets – 397 participants, 16 events
Waltham Forest – 798 participants, 14 events
Wandsworth – 60 participants, 3 events
Westminster – 239 participants, 0 events
Others – 102 participants (from a London borough but event was just outside London)
