Sir Steve was joined at the announcement by Minister for Sport and the Olympics Hugh Robertson as well as Sport England chief executive Jennie Price at Britannia Village Hall in Newham, which has received £50,000 ($78,435/€60,020) to install sprung flooring and new lighting which will cater for sports such as gymnastics and judo.

"Already this legacy programme has brought sporting opportunities to every corner of the country," said Sir Steve (pictured below).

"So wherever you live you too can be part of it, whether that's making sport happen in your neighbourhood as a Sport Maker or getting out there and enjoying sport at decent local facilities."

The Inspired Facilities fund is part of Sport England's Places People Play Olympic and Paralympic legacy programme and further local sports clubs could benefit as Sport England today launched another £10 million ($15.6 million/€12.7 million) funding round of Inspired Facilities.


Funding for the legacy programme itself has increased by £15 million ($23.78 million/€17.89 million) thanks to strong sales of National Lottery tickets while the announcement today comes after new figures showed more people than ever are playing sport every week.

Figures released by Sport England show the total number of adults in England taking part in sport at least once a week has reached 15.3 million which is an increase of 1.3 million since 2005 when London won the Olympic and Paralympic bid.

"Hosting the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games gives us an opportunity to put sport in the spotlight and encourage more people to participate," said Robertson.

"That's exactly what Places People Play is about.

"It's already having a positive impact on grassroots sport in communities up and down the country and the additional £15 million ($23.78 million/€17.89 million) will spread that further, helping to leave a real sports legacy long after the Games."

In addition to the £19.4 million ($30.3 million/€24.7 million), sports playing fields and facilities across the country have already received over £46 million ($58.5 million/€71.9 million) through Sport England's Places People Play legacy programme.

As well as these investments, over 80,000 young people have got into sport through Sportivate, over 18,000 people have become a Sport Maker (pictured below) and more than 100,000 have signed up to do a sporting challenge for charity through Gold Challenge.


"There's a lot to celebrate as we welcome the world's greatest athletes to London, but what happens to our local sports facilities in 2012 is just as important," added Price.

"The £19.4 million ($30.3 million/€24.7 million) investment we're announcing today means people in every part of England will see improved sports facilities on their own doorsteps."

The investments announced today will breathe new life into tired facilities that can be unattractive to sports participants, and difficult to maintain and run.

Grants have also been offered to convert existing buildings into venues that are suitable for grassroots sport and to allow local clubs to buy the facilities they use.

Places People Play is being delivered by Sport England  in partnership with the British Olympic Association (BOA) and the British Paralympic Association (BPA) with the backing of London 2012.

To read Jennie Price: Getting the most out of grassroots sport click here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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December 2011: Community groups benefit from Olympic legacy funds
November 2011: Manchester boxing club is first to benefit fromSport England fund
October 2011: Sport England put £10 million up for grabs to grass roots sport
July 2011: National Lottery pledges £50 million to upgrade 1,000 English sports facilities
November 2010: Richard Lewis - Delivering a mass participation legacy from London 2012