Mayor Of London Unveils 2012 Sports Legacy Plan
Mayor of London Boris Johnson has unveiled his plans to create a sports legacy for the capital following its staging of the 2012 Olympics including the provision of mobile swimming pools, street athletics and sport for disabled children.
The initiatives will be introduced by Sport England and local authority members of a new forum. The new London Community Sports Board will be chaired by Kate Hoey MP, Commissioner for Sport in London.
The announcement contains the details of Johnson’s pledge in January to invest £15.5m in sport in London, to be matched by sponsors and Sport England.
Boris Johnson said: ‘The success of the Olympics must not be judged on regeneration benefits in the east of London alone.
‘This is a once in a lifetime chance to increase sport participation and activity, tackle social and health inequalities and bring the capital’s communities together under the same vision.’
More than a fifth of children in London are classified as obese and 50% of Londoners are defined as inactive, according to NHS London statistics.
The Mayor hopes extra participation in sport and physical activity in the run-up to the 2012 Games will address this, and tackle other problems including crime and academic underachievement.
