RICHARD DRAX, the Conservative South Dorset MP, has welcomed the government’s recent announcement to hold an Olympic and Paralympics-style schools sports competition for young people across England.
Up to £10 million of lottery funding, distributed by Sport England, will create a new sports league structure for primary and secondary schools culminating in an inaugural national final to be held in the run up to the London Olympic and Paralympics Games in 2012.
In response, Richard said: “This is just the sort of incentive that both schools and youngsters need to foster camaraderie, discipline, courage and leadership.
“Sport is a great leveller and teaches young people how to get on with each other and to respect teams from other schools. I really am genuinely delighted at this idea from Education Secretary Michael Gove and will do all I can to encourage it in South Dorset.”
Schools will compete against each other in leagues at a local level from 2011 with winning athletes and teams qualifying for up to 60 county finals.
The most talented young athletes will then be selected for the national finals. Schools will also be encouraged to host in-house Olympic-style sports days so that children of all abilities have the opportunity to compete.
There will be a Paralympics element at every level of the competition for young people with disabilities. The ambition is for the competition to continue after 2012.
Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport Jeremy Hunt said: ""I want to give a real boost to competitive sport in schools using the power of hosting the Olympic and Paralympics Games to encourage young people - whatever age or ability - to take part in this new competition.
""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.""
Education Secretary Michael Gove said: ""We need to revive competitive sport in our schools. Fewer than a third of school pupils take part in regular competitive sport within schools, and fewer than one in five take part in regular competition between schools. The School Olympics give us a chance to change that for good.""