The International Inspiration programme, London 2012’s global legacy initiative, has helped get more than 25 million children playing sport across 20 countries over the past two years.

Delivered through a partnership between UK Sport, British Council, UNICEF UK and the newly established legacy charity ‘International Inspiration’, the programme has reached more than double its initial target of 12 million children.

The figures come from a final evaluation report on programme, undertaken by the independent evaluation and monitoring organisation Ecorys UK, which explored whether the programme had achieved its objectives, the impact of the programme and the extent to which it had delivered a sustainable legacy.

The report found that the programme contributed to positive change at three levels of society:

• made sport accessible to more than 25 million children

• trained more than 250,000 practitioners (teachers, coaches and leaders), helping to build a sustainable foundation for national sporting systems and structures for future generations• influenced 55 national policies, strategies and legislative changes

UNICEF UK Executive Director, David Bull said: “The success of International Inspiration shows us what a unique power sport has to reach children and young people and help them achieve their dreams, even when they are faced with overwhelming poverty and adversity. It is a legacy that we are very much committed to and will live on for many years to come.”

The programme was conceived from a promise made by Lord Coe in Singapore in 2005 to “reach young people all around the world and connect them to the inspirational power of the Games so they are inspired to choose sport”.

Announcing the results of the project in London yesterday, Lord Coe, chair of International Inspiration, said: “It’s nearly ten years ago that I made a promise to ‘reach young people all around the world and connect them to the inspirational power of the Games so they are inspired to choose sport’, and nearly a decade on we will have inspired over 25 million children and young people around the world by providing education and sporting opportunities that they otherwise wouldn’t have had.

“I am incredibly proud that we managed to make a difference, using sport as a tool for development, for so many children and young people all over the world, as a direct result of hosting the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games here in the UK.”

Background:

• IN is an international development charity that aims to harness the power of sport and to transform the lives of some of the poorest children in the world by giving them the chance to play sport, develop their skills and confidence and live healthier, happier and safer lives.

• To read a feature article on the International Inspiration programme, click here for Sports Management Issue 1, 2014.