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Sportivate encourages youngsters to take part
MORE than 590 young people in Lincolnshire have been inspired to do sport in their own time in the first six months of Sport England’s Sportivate Olympic and Paralympic legacy initiative.
Eighteen-year-old Jacob Mellaney, who is studying at the University of Lincoln, is one of the teenagers and young adults who has received six to eight weeks of coaching in a sport of their choice.
He said: “The Learn to Row course has been great and something I have enjoyed greatly, I have continued with the sport and have raced competitive and won already!”
Responding to the legacy pledge made by Seb Coe in Singapore in 2005, Sportivate is aimed at 14- to 25-year-olds who currently aren’t playing sport in their own time, giving them the chance to find a sport they enjoy. The young people are then helped to find a club or venue where they can keep taking part.
Lincolnshire Sports Partnership is running Sportivate in all seven districts of the county, including rugby in Boston, dance in Lincoln, climbing in North Kesteven, badminton in East Lindsey, swimming in South Holland, cricket in West Lindsey and squash in South Kesteven.
Lucy Blakey, Children and Young People’s Officer at Lincolnshire Sports Partnership, said: “Sportivate not only provides a great opportunity to encourage young people to get involved in sport; it provides a huge financial incentive for sports clubs, schools, leisure facilities and others, to deliver more sport across Lincolnshire.”
All those who complete a sports course, missing no more than one session, and then continue to play sport for at least three months will have the chance to enter a ballot for free London 2012 tickets. Sport England has hundreds of Olympic and Paralympic tickets available for Sportivate participants via the London 2012 Ticketshare initiative.
Sport England’s chairman Richard Lewis said: “We’re delighted that so many young people in Lincolnshire have been inspired to get involved. This is what the Olympic and Paralympic legacy is about and it’s fantastic to hear about those finding a new passion for sport.”
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Weather for Sleaford
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
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Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
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