Sport stars promote Indigenous Sports Programme in Melbourne

The double Olympic Gold medallist joined 2012 Ambassador Daley Thompson, Australian swimming legend Dawn Fraser and cricketer Steve Waugh to meet children taking part in the project and join them in sports activities, including Australian Football.

Coe said he was delighted to support the initiative which reflects London 2012's vision to use the Olympic Games as a catalyst to inspire more young people into sport.

The sports stars were also taught how to play two different Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander games.

The Indigenous Sports Programme aims to increase the opportunities and pathways available to Indigenous Australians through sport.

The programme provides sports activities and healthcare advice for outback communities where boredom and lack of opportunities can lead to social problems.

It is supported by the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation - an international organisation that promotes access to sport, particularly for disadvantaged communities.

Coe, a Laureus member, said: "It is wonderful to be able to come to Australia and see the good work that is being undertaken."

He was in Australia as a guest of Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games organisers and to lead a London 2012 delegation in Melbourne to observe the organisation and operation of key functional areas of the Commonwealth Games, featuring 4,500 athletes from 71 nations across 16 sports.

Coe, along with Sir Keith Mills and Paul Deighton, also held a series of meetings with former Sydney Olympic Games Organising Committee officials and visited venue sites used for the Games including the Sydney Olympic Park, which will be a model for the London Games.

20 March 2006