Sport.Cardiff has been awarded the London 2012 Inspire Mark for an incredible eight of its sporting projects.
The Inspire programme aims to help bring the benefits of the 2012 Olympic Games to every part of the UK and recognises non-commercial organisations that are delivering projects genuinely inspired by the London Olympic and Paralympic Games.
It is only awarded to schemes of the highest standard that demonstrate they are accessible, participative, inspiring and stimulating and will become part of the London 2012’s brand family.
The latest project to be awarded the titles is the ‘Girls Fitness Programme’, a fitness initiative specifically aimed at teenage girls.
The joint initiative between Sport.Cardiff and the Council’s Leisure Services aims to encourage girls aged between 14 and 16 years to participate in physical activity whilst demonstrating the different fitness sessions available to them once they leave school.
The girls partake in a variety of fitness sessions over a 10 week course. Activities take place after school and vary each week to allow the girls to experience different sports and activities such as spin, Zumba®, Box-a-cise and a Teenfit gym course.
After the 10 week block, those classes identified by the girls as the most popular have been implemented within the Leisure Facilities at a community rate, so the girls can continue in their new found fitness programme.
Other Sport.Cardiff projects to be awarded the title include the Accredited Volunteer Scheme which recruits volunteers to support the delivery of Cardiff’s involvement in the 2012 Olympic Games, sporting infrastructure and coaching, Legacy 500, an event which marked the official 500 day countdown to the Paralympic Games, Disability Hockey in the Community, the Every Player Counts disability football initiative, Paralympic Legacy programme Count Me In, Cardiff Host Ambassadors Programme and the Cardiff 2012 Coaching Legacy.
Sport.Cardiff can now associate its work with the London 2012 Olympic Games and is provided with valuable recognition for the excellent work that the team carries out.
Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture, Cllr Nigel Howells said: “Sport.Cardiff continue to successfully provide a wealth of opportunity through innovative and accessible sporting projects.
“It is fantastic that projects such as the ‘Girls Fitness Programme’ has received recognition for being an excellent, forward thinking way to encourage girls to take up physical activity during their teenage years in the hope they will stay active during adulthood.
“Sport.Cardiff has not only been responsible for the first Inspire Mark to be awarded in Wales but has also had the most projects to receive the award.
“Cardiff aims to maintain its legacy following London 2012, including improving club, competition and coaching infrastructure and the development of grassroots sport provision for young people.”
