Increasing opportunities to play sport

In order to deliver on his promise to help increase participation in sport, the Mayor has invested in a number of legacy projects that are giving new opportunities for Londoners to get involved.

Sport can encompass such a broad range of activities – from football to BMXing to dance. In deciding which projects to invest in, we looked at hundreds of possible options and have come up with a portfolio that we think captures the diverse possibilities of sport. There are, however, several common themes that link all these programmes together.

Firstly, they are all focused on making their sport or activity attractive to those who previously might not have been a participant- they are always looking to get new people active.

Secondly, they all have a genuine commitment to providing equal opportunity for people with disabilities.

Thirdly, and perhaps most important of all, they have clear plans for how they will continue to provide sporting opportunity post-2012. These projects are about creating a genuine Olympic and Paralympic legacy that will endure for many years to come.

Read more about the Mayor's legacy projects.

In addition to these fairly large projects, the Mayor’s Freesport programme allows hundreds of organisations each year to open their doors and put on free coaching sessions for Londoners. Find out what’s going on near you