By Debbie Lye, International Development Director at UK Sport

Having been involved in the genesis of International Inspiration in 2007, it was a great moment when the announcement came that the programme has now reached 20 countries.

International Inspiration, London 2012's international legacy programme, has had an impact on the lives of 12 million children and young people, many of them from some of the world's most disadvantaged communities, and to know we achieved our goal by June last year. It is a proud achievement to have pulled off the "2012" double well.. Read More »

By Nick King

The remonstrations over the Coalition Government's decision to cut direct funding for school sport partnerships were loud, passionate and widespread. Indeed, the criticism laid at the door of the Department for Education displayed a unity of approach on the part of the UK's sporting bodies that cannot always be taken for granted and which, it could be argued, was one of the only positive stories to come out of this sorry situation.

The decision has been made and the dice have been cast, and as a result we must.. Read More »

By Celia Brackenridge

Everyone knows about the Olympics … most people know about the Paralympics … some know about the Cultural Olympiad … but very few know about the pre-Olympic Convention or, to give it its full name, the International Convention on Science, Education and Medicine in Sport (ICSEMIS).

ICSEMIS is the name for an event many decades old but now rebranded and coordinated by a unique partnership - the International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Paralympic Committee (IPC), International Sports.. Read More »

By Nick Raistrick

I recently took part in a panel discussion on the Winning over the Media at the Peace and Sport International Forum 2011 where I met people who believed that sport is a force for the good and that sports journalists have a duty to bring peace and promote good causes. And whilst I understand why people might think these things, I don't believe either to be true.

Before I talk about the role of media in terms of sport for development let me declare my interests: I worked for the BBC for nine years, I believe in a free.. Read More »

The Olympic and Paralympic Games have been part of my life for almost as long as I can remember. I can remember all the talks of boycotts at the 1980 Games, and who could forget the men on space packs at the Opening Ceremony of LA in 1984. But to have a Games on home soil is something that I think we should celebrate.

One of the reasons that I got involved in the bid process was because I saw how important it could be for shaping inclusion of disabled young people, not just in school sport, but also from grass roots to elite. To put it in to context.. Read More »

By James Emmett

It is very easy to scoff indignantly at the government'’s decision to increase funding for the Olympic opening and closing ceremonies by over 100 per cent. And when on the morning of 5th December David Cameron himself gave the go-ahead to raise the fireworks budget for London’s Olympics by £41 million, a nation did indeed sputter into its coffee. And with good reason. LOCOG, the organisers of the London Games, sensibly pledged in the immediate aftermath of the Beijing Olympics in 2008 that they would not attempt to compete with the scale, nor the cost, of their Chinese.. Read More »

By Linda Plowright

Some years ago – after already clocking up 20 years in management of mass community sports participation – I was rendered speechless by a new link officer from another national sporting body earnestly impressing upon me that what I needed to do was to "work in partnership with other sports bodies". Wasn't that rather an obvious piece of advice? Some 10 years later this moment has still left its mark and it is now impossible to go through a day without our Government agencies, funders and customers all exhorting the same 'best practice'. Now don't get me wrong. I'm all in.. Read More »

By Tom Simmonds

The idea of Auderes Sport has been influenced by many people. They range from the kids who continue to play football and other sports, barefoot, on dusty pitches in the heat, all over Africa; to the vision, passion and determination of individuals and organizations in the emerging field of Sport for Development; and the potential to harness the influence and power of the corporate world with marketing budgets larger than the GDP of some countries in Africa.

Auderes Sport is a business venture that.. Read More »

By Matt Kendall

So, 2012 won't get 2 million people more active – we gave up the target. Well why not? What a once in a lifetime opportunity the Olympics is, and here we are 7 and a half months from the opening ceremony and where's the plan? Maybe big events that make everyone sit up and take note don't work? So, when we see a British Handball, volleyball or fencing team compete in London this coming Summer, won't we be inspired, Wimbledon effect-style to have a go? My assertion is that 'of course we will' its just that we won't have anywhere to send those inspired people.. Read More »

At the Peace and Sport (www.peace-sport.org) Forum, I attended a session entitled 'Champions on and off the field'. My mind immediately turned to two sports, rugby and football, especially in the light of the past months and the debates which have ensued since the World Cup, and the seemingly perpetual headlines surrounding footballers from the Premier League, especially in the light of the recent super-injunction scandal in the UK.

A distinguished panel of elite athletes took the stage after an opening address from.. Read More »