Sport week to teach pupils about Olympics

Thousands of pupils in London are to have lessons about the Olympics as part of a revamped National School Sport Week starting today.

Children will be asked to choreograph opening ceremonies, devise ticketing policies and redesign the 2012 logo.

Olympic-themed lessons in almost 1,000 London schools are to take the "best values" of sport into all aspects of educational life.

National School Sport Week was introduced last year - after the decline of traditional sports days - to help meet government targets for youth participation. The aim by 2012 is to have most pupils doing five hours' sport a week in school and at clubs.

A small number of free tickets to the Games will be handed out to encourage reluctant pupils, under plans being developed by Lloyds TSB, the official 2012 bank and sports week sponsor.

Every participating school has been given a DVD of Team GB's medal-winning feats at the past two Games.

Each pupil will get certificates if they fulfil written pledges such as recording an athletics personal best, introducing friends to their sport, or improving their sporting disciplinary record. Local clubs, from cycling to archery, will go into schools to offer "taster sessions" .

The 2012 organising committee, Locog, is contributing Get Set learning packs promoting Olympic ideals to three- to19-year-olds. At Westfield Community Technology College in Watford, pupils prepared for sports week with motivational talks from two Olympic medallists, badminton player Gail Emms and sprinter Jason Gardener.

Gardener explained the rigours of winning his medal and gave a broader message about healthy lifestyles. The Youth Sport Trust ambassador said: "The Olympics can be about giving people the stimulus to take advantage of an opportunity no matter where you come from. Some parents can't afford to pay for children to join clubs so the clubs are coming to schools."

Principal Emma Aylesbury said: "We are hiring more teachers and have changed the curriculum to make room for sport. Sports week has revitalised the curriculum not just in PE but in design and technology, maths and IT. It has permeated the school."

Ntombana Moyo, 12, a keen basketball player, said: "Sport is really important because it improves your health. When do I get my ticket to the Olympics?"

With its motivated staff and exceptional facilities, including a 25-metre swimming pool, Westfield is already a sporting success story, but the scheme's true test lies in boosting participation at inner-city schools. It will be taken into 90 schools in Newham, one of the UK's least active areas.