Schools Olympics pledge from Tories
Jeremy Hunt pledges to create yearly schools Olympics as part of London 2012 legacy
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By Adam Leveridge. |  |
Wednesday, 07, Oct 2009 11:06
By Matthew Champion.
Pupils should compete in yearly schools Olympics and parents should have access to sports day league tables as part of the 2012 legacy, the Conservatives said today.
Shadow culture secretary Jeremy Hunt told the Tory conference his party was backing proposals put forward by Dame Kelly Holmes.
The schools Olympics would be a national sports competition involving schools across the UK, culminating in a finals session at the Olympic Stadium in London. The Tories said reforms to the National Lottery funding system would pay for the new competitions.
Mr Hunt said publishing league tables of not just sporting facilities but also results, through a system of local, city, regional and national heats, would foster a spirit of competitive sport to preserve the legacy of London 2012 and also help combat childhood obesity.
He told delegates in Manchester the plans would create a "genuine legacy" long after the Games finished.
"We agree that the values of competitive sport are crucial in creating a society that brings out the best in young people. This initiative will allow us to use 2012 to bring competitive sport - and sporting values - within the grasp of all young people," he said.
"Labour claims to support school sport but their obsession with political correctness, their continual raids on National Lottery sports funding and their suffocating health and safety regulations mean there are millions of children not taking part in any competitive sport."