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Youth encouraged to get active online

Sebastian Coe
Sebastian Coe

Sebastian Coe has spoken about how London 2012 will use digital technology to 'engage young people with the world of sport'.

Speaking at the Sport Accord conference in Beijing, Coe emphasised the need to use online communities and new media to get young people interested in sport and activity.

22 million children under the age of five and one in 10 school children worldwide is overweight, with physical activity and physical education declining in schools.

Coe said: "Our challenge is to build a relationship with millions of young people over the next five years, not just in the summer of sport in 2012, and connect them with the meaning of sport and the Games like never before.

"In western countries, our children have unlimited access to an unprecedented range of entertainment, including a virtual world where they can assume new identities and communicate with their friends and well beyond – 24 hours a day.

"Let's use these channels of communication to our advantage and engage young people with our world of sport."

25 April 2007