A year on from London 2012, double Olympic cycling champion Jason Kenny is today celebrating a national legacy programme that has helped more than 6,400 young people in the West of England to get involved in sport.
The West of England Sport Trust (Wesport) are leading the delivery of Sportivate in the West of England area and have seen some fantastic projects take place, inspiring young people to get active.
"I stumbled into cycling and fell in love with the sport instantly," said Kenny, who won gold in both the men's and team sprint in the London Velodrome last summer.
"Not everybody has had the opportunities that I have had but this is what is so great about Sportivate, it offers young people the chance to try new sports with the help of fantastic coaches.
"I would encourage all young people to get out there and find a sport they enjoy."
New figures published by Sport England show 6,482 teenagers and young adults from the West of England have so far benefitted from free or discounted six-to-eight week courses through Sportivate. Of these, 5,627 have successfully completed their course, missing no more than one session.
Backed by National Lottery funding, Sportivate aims to give young people who currently aren't playing sport in their own time the chance to find a sport they like. The young people are then helped to find a club or other venue where they can keep taking part.
National research shows that eight out of ten of the young people are sticking with sport three months after they‟ve completed their Sportivate course.
Mike Diaper, Sport England‟s director of community sport, said: "The key to Sportivate's success has been listening to what young people want from sport locally and then offering a great sporting experience at times and places that fit with their lives."
Steve Nelson, Wesport‟s chief executive officer, added: "Sportivate is a great London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic legacy project and is helping to deliver the promise that Lord Sebastian Coe made about inspiring the next generation to take part in sport."
To find out more information about Sportivate in the West of England, visit www.wesport.org.uk/sportivate.
