Sportivate National Launch
Thousands of teenagers and young adults across Northumberland 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 Northumberland Sport 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 Playmass participation legacy programme, Sportivate will see 300,000 teenagers and young adults across England completing sports courses over four years.
Thanks to £158,000 of Lottery investment in Northumberland, at least 3,000 local people will be able to take part in activities such as:
- Rugby League
- Triathlon
- Windsurfing
- Golf
- Angling
- Sailing
- Swimming and much more.
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."
Doug Lowery, Executive Director for Northumberland Sport said:
"Sportivate will provide high quality, exciting new opportunities to thousands of young people throughout Northumberland demonstrating that sport can offer something for everyone."
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."
What does it mean for Northumberland?
Northumberland Sport will work with local providers and sports clubs to help 14- to 25-year-olds in Northumberland to continue playing sport long after they have completed the course.
To help inspire and motivate the participants, our Sporting Champions - a team of current and retired elite athletes - will visit Sportivate sessions to share their experiences and enthusiasm for sport.
London 2012 Ticket Incentive
As an additional incentive, 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.
Further Information
For further information about the Sportivate programme in Northumberland for 2011-2015, please visit our Sportivate pages.
