Sir Steve Redgrave, Sebastian Coe and Dame Kelly Holmes Unite for International Inspiration

Three of Britain’s most celebrated Olympians – Sir Steve Redgrave, Sebastian Coe and Dame Kelly Holmes – visited a school in New Delhi on 2nd August, participating in the London 2012 International Inspiration programme which has now taken sport to over 6 million young people in challenging situations worldwide.

The International Inspiration programme is based on the vision of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Bid Committee to use the inspirational power of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to connect more young people with sport around the world.

Redgrave, Coe and Holmes, president of Commonwealth Games England, witnessed the benefits of International Inspiration activities involving children with a range of physical and intellectual capabilities while visiting the Springdales School in New Delhi Thursday morning.

The multiple gold medallists, who each played key roles in the successful bid to host the London 2012 Games – Coe was chairman of the Bid committee, while Holmes and Redgrave were leading ambassadors – were on a  business and diplomatic mission to India led by the British Prime Minister David Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, Chancellor, Business Secretary and Culture Secretary. The visit is promoting strong bilateral relations and areas of shared interest between the two countries, including sport and culture. The chairman of the II Foundation, Sir Keith Mills, was Chief Executive of the London 2012 Bid committee, and is deputy chairman of the London organising committee.

“International Inspiration – the programme we committed to in Singapore, in 2005, when we presented to the IOC and were awarded the right to host the 2012 Games, is an inspiring reality, and is leaving a truly global legacy from the 2012 Games,” said Coe, Chairman of the London 2012 Organising Committee.

Millions of children and young people have benefited from International Inspiration which involves programmes of planned and structured education and sport-related activities relevant to the needs and abilities of children and young people in schools, villages and other community settings. International Inspiration is also assisting with peace and reconciliation efforts by hosting sport events and competitions in camps for displaced young people removed from conflict zones, and is also reaching out to street children, helping them change their lives through sport and play.

Full information about the London 2012 International Inspiration Programme can be found on UK Sport.