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With three years to go to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, thousands of Londoners are being given the opportunity to get more active and try out different sports.

Backed by the Mayor of London and his Commissioner for Sport Kate Hoey, Play Sport London features around 30 different sports and involves more than 140 grass roots clubs putting on expert coaching and activities. Participants will then be signposted to local clubs where they can carry on playing their chosen sport.

The new programme is run and funded by London Development Agency (LDA) with the support of Sport England.

Play Sport London runs until 30 September with activities for people of all ages and for disabled Londoners. The aim is to build on the success of an earlier scheme, Summer of Sport, which reached around 8,000 Londoners last year.

It comes on top of the Mayor's £15.5 million investment in grass-roots sport, which was announced earlier this year.


Mayor of London Boris Johnson said:

"With three years to go until 2012, we want to see more Londoners taking up sport and getting active. Whatever your age or ability, Play Sport London is a brilliant opportunity to try something new or get coaching in a sport you already enjoy. I'm committed to making sport and physical activity more accessible to all and hope you will visit your local club to give it a go."


Geoff Newton, LDA Director of Olympic Opportunity, said:

"Play Sport London gives people the chance to play a sport they may not have tried before. The more coaching people receive the more likely they are to carry on playing those sports at their local clubs.

"Playing sport is a vital ingredient in improving peoples’ wellbeing and quality of life. Not only will Play Sport London benefit Londoners, but it will also support our local clubs that are an integral part of our communities.


Hannah Bladen, Sport England’s Strategic Lead for London, said:

"Providing people with high-quality coaching in a wide variety of sports is critical to our mission to drive up the number of people playing and enjoying sport. By encouraging people to join local clubs once they’ve found a sport they’re passionate about, this scheme can help drive life-long

participation."

To find out more about events being offered as part of Play Sport London, visit the website at www.london.gov.uk/playsport.

For more details about Play Sport London events visit the website:

www.london.gov.uk/playsport.

Play Sport London sports include: Basketball, Football (including Futsal), Rugby, Athletics, Baseball, Racquet, Martial Arts, Gymnastics, Fitness, Archery, Boxing, Cricket, Cycling, Golf, Korfball, Watersports, Aquatics, Fencing, Dance, Roller Skating, Trampolining, Volleyball, Disability Sports, Netball, Gaelic Sport, Handball, Hockey, Swimming Triatholon.

The London Development Agency aims to improve the quality of life for all Londoners - working to create jobs, develop skills and promote economic growth. The Mayor of London published 'A Sporting Future for London' earlier this year, which sets out the Mayor's vision to cerate a fitter, healthier, more active London.

To download a copy: www.london.gov.uk/mayor/publications/2009/04/sporting-future.jsp.

Kate Hoey, the Mayor's Sports Commissioner, is chair of the London Community Sports Board, which recently met for the first time. The Board has been established to help ensure London reaps the benefits of a long term Olympic legacy.



For further information please contact:

Sarita Bhatia, Press Officer

Tel: 020 7593 8087 Mob: 07711 605444 saritabhatia@lda.gov.uk 

LDA out of hours: 07977 439371 Public enquiries: 020 7593 9000