I was also fortunate enough to be in Singapore when Lord Sebastian Coe made the promise that if London was given the chance to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we would harness the power of sport to ‘reach children all around the world and connect them to the inspirational power of the Games and to see millions more young people across the world participating in sport and improving their lives as a result’.
The chance to be involved in sport should be available to all children, giving them the opportunity for a while to forget about some of the challenges they face. That is what makes International Inspiration such a unique programme; it aims to give millions of children around the world the opportunity to get involved in sport, for the first time for some.
There are now three years to go until the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and International Inspiration is already changing the lives of young people in five countries – Azerbaijan, Brazil, India, Palau and Zambia – with work beginning in Bangladesh, Jordan, Ghana, Mozambique and Trinidad and Tobago and plans underway for initiatives in Malaysia, Nigeria and South Africa.
Through the provision of high quality and inclusive physical education, sport and play, International Inspiration is working in each of these countries with not only children and young people, but also their teachers, community volunteers and coaches as well as governments to ensure that the results are sustainable and life-changing for future generations.
I have heard the story of a remarkable young woman called Manjula Madavi, who lives in a tribal community in the Chandrapur district in India. Most of the people in her village are illiterate, unaware of the benefits of education and still allow child marriages. After receiving life skills training through International Inspiration, Manjula had the confidence to refuse an arranged marriage, instead choosing to use sports and games as a tool to teach the girls in her community about the importance of going to school, getting vaccinated, and other ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
I am honoured to join together with such a distinguished group of British sports men and women in pledging my support of this ground-breaking programme for young people, and I cannot wait for the chance to meet some of the young people like Manjula whose lives are being changed in such incredible ways.
