Community Sports Participation

The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is seen as a fantastic opportunity to inspire people in London to become more active, encouraging Londoners of all ages and from all backgrounds to get involved in a range of different sports and physical activities.

The six weeks of the Games are important not only to act as a stimulus for our country's own talented athletes, but to inspire individuals and communities, at all levels of ability and/or fitness, to try new sports and be more physically active. The associated benefits of participation in sport are well documented - improved health, greater energy, renewed confidence and self esteem. But sport also helps to develop a sense of community, enhances economic development, raises educational attainment and can be a spur for employment and regeneration.

London Councils works within existing sports infrastructure in the capital, working closely with Sport England, the Greater London Authority, London Sports Forum for disabled people, and the 5 Pro Active Partnerships to ensure that all London boroughs and their communities get tangible benefits from staging the Games, both in the run-up to the Games and through its legacy.

The focus of the London Councils work is around Community Sport, working towards the Sport England and Department for Culture Media and Sport target of increasing sports participation by 1% year on year.