As CEO of UK Sport I meet people from the sporting world every day but this week was my first opportunity to visit Jordan and to see firsthand the impact that the International Inspiration programme is having on thousands of youngsters across the country.

International Inspiration is London 2012's official international legacy programme and is aiming to provide sporting opportunities for 12 million children in 20 countries across the world. To date, it has reached almost seven million children in 15 countries, from Azerbaijan to Zambia.

Jordan, where I have spent the past four days, is at the start of its third year of involvement with International Inspiration but the legacy of the programme will last for years to come. What makes this programme so special is its unique approach. Not only is it providing opportunities for young people to take part in sport, sometimes for the first time, crucially it is also creating partnerships with teachers, coaches, communities and the government to ensure that programmes that are implemented are supported locally and are sustainable.

One of the stand-out examples of this has been the implementation of 15 'sports hubs' which open up their doors to provide regular sports and play activities for children from 4-18 years after school. A focus of these sports hubs is to increase opportunities for children who have sometimes been marginalised from their communities, including children with disabilities, girls and refugees. These hubs have created safe spaces for children to gather, feel included and take part in sport, whatever their ability. Their aim is to make sport part of a daily routine. The one I visited in Meleh, Madaba is providing a safe indoor space, away from the streets, for children to take part in sport and learn about health issues and working as a team. The parents I met told me that without the support of International Inspiration, this opportunity would not have been available in their community and they are so engaged with it they are happy to help to ensure its success.

I've had numerous positive experiences during my time in Jordan, none of which have been more uplifting than meeting the young people involved in the projects themselves. A couple of them, in particular, stand out -  true characters whose lives have clearly positively benefited from their involvement with International Inspiration. One of them, a girl called Hana, has been trained as a young leader, planning and running festivals of activity in her school for other pupils, including those with a disability. Hana is also one of 20 young girls in her school who have gone on to train another 60 young leaders in their community. Their teacher, Imam, told me that all these girls have grown in confidence, are active and are contributing to their school, community and are working with other schools, all thanks to International Inspiration.



But it wasn't just the impact on individual young lives that struck me on my visit, but also the structured way that International Inspiration is touching lives and making an impact at all levels. I was lucky enough to be involved in a 'Kids Athletics' project which is training teachers in coaching fun and age-appropriate athletics for children age 7-12. This project, run in conjunction with the IAAF marks the first time that an international federation has been involved with the programme, with similar training programmes to be rolled out across Nigeria and Mozambique in the coming months – all thanks to International Inspiration.

I was also extremely impressed by the amount of integration and team work on the ground which is vital to the success of these multi-stakeholder projects. For example, the Jordan Olympic Committee has embraced International Inspiration and is working closely with the national swimming and athletics federations, amongst others, to increase opportunities for young people to participate.



It was clear to me that International Inspiration is making a difference and creating long lasting systematic change. It is truly delivering on the pledge made by Seb Coe back in 2005 to inspire the youth of the world to choose sport. Together, with the support of the numerous organisations involved in each country it will continue to create a positive impact on the lives of youngsters for years to come. It is something for us all involved to be proud of and I am confident it is leaving a lasting legacy for London 2012.

International Inspiration is London 2012's international legacy programme, delivered by UK Sport, the British Council and UNICEF. More  can be found by clicking here. 

Liz Nicholl is the chief executive of UK Sport