The Chancellor,
Gordon Brown, launched the School Olympics for the UK in his Budget
speech on March 22nd 2006. These School Olympics aim to inspire
school children in sports and to develop the UK's national sports
talent. In his speech, Gordon Brown said, "The 2012 Olympics will be
a proud moment for London - and the whole of Britain. Together the
government, the London authority and the national lottery have
already agreed funding of £3.4 billions. And I am able to announce
the next stage.
We will invest now in our 2012 Olympic champions.
Recent results in Melbourne have shown the outstanding young
sporting talent in our country.
For training and facilities for our world class athletes of the
future, i can announce £200 million of public money to be matched by
raising £100 million in sponsorship from the private sector, and
with another £300 million from the lottery, over £600 million in
total: world class funding for world class athletes.
The Olympics will inspire young people all across Britain and we
must open up to them new opportunities to take part in sports.
So today we are announcing that each year, from now until 2012,
there will be a schools Olympics.
Starting in Glasgow this year, and in a different city each year,
we will fund annual national competitions in Olympic events open to
all school children throughout the united kingdom.
The 2012 Olympics is for athletes to excel in, but also must be
an event that all Britain can share in.
So today we are also announcing an Olympic trust fund for
nationwide sports and cultural events which will take place during
the Olympics.
The games will end in 2012, but their legacy must continue.
Benefiting not just London but the whole country.
So because we want the 2012 Olympics and beyond that any English
bid for the 2018 world cup to regenerate sport across our country, I
want us to build in every area of the country over the next decade
public private partnerships that can renovate and extend local
sporting facilities.
And we are today announcing initial funding of £34 million for a
new national sports foundation starting next week which, modelled on
the football foundation's success, will bring together public and
private finance for new local sports facilities and grassroots
participation."
