London Olympics: an Inspiration to Our Children

If there is one thing which is currently in the public eye which should cause children to be inspired to take up sport, it is the London Olympics. Having the Olympics in your own country is a once in a lifetime experience – and encourage plenty of people, not just children, to take up a sport. In the same way that sales of tennis racquets rocket during Wimbledon, children will be inspired to take up sport when they see people competing at such a high level against the backdrop of their own capital city.

School Games

The UK School Games has been increasing in popularity in recent years. And, as the popularity has soared and more schools have become interested in the games, the organisers have started to set them up more like the Olympics. They are also recruiting volunteers to enable a wide range of children to be involved in the Games even if they are not taking part.

The Gold Challenge

The Gold Challenge is an initiative that has been set up to get lots more people – children and adults – to have a go at a wide range of sports. The idea is that people can try as many Olympic sports as possible by going to accredited community clubs and having a go at some of the basic skills. If they manage all of them, they win the gold challenge and there are also silver and bronze if trying all Olympic sports seems a little daunting. The idea behind the challenges is that people can be inspired to try a whole range of new sports – and with a little bit of luck, fall in love with one of them and get fit with a whole new sport.

Pay Your Age

One of the biggest initiatives to inspire children to take up sport in the Pay Your Age scheme. It is as simple as it sounds. Children under 16 simply pay the amount in pounds that they are in years. In this way, all children should be able to commit and pay for at least one ticket to see a sport. While the excitement of having the Olympics in your country is one thing, imagine the euphoria of seeing your favourite sport in front of you. It is the sort of experience that will last for a lifetime and instil a sense of belief and determination into a whole generation.

While the vast majority of children watching the Olympics will never reach the dizzy heights of Olympic stardom themselves, the point is that they will be inspired by the Olympics and start to dream. These dreams will fuel their desires and they will continue to strive to be the very best they can be – and that is where the real success and legacy of the Games will come in. For if thousands upon thousands of children take up a new sport as a result of the Olympic games, even if they never get any further than their local leisure centre, that enjoyment and the improvement to their health will be the very best thing the Olympics can leave behind.