2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games to inspire junior sports participation.

Cheering on our sporting heroes on the international stage is an important part of Australian culture and now primary school children across the country will get to share in the excitement and action of London 2012, on their local sports fields and ovals, as part of the Prime Minister’s Olympic and Paralympic Challenges.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard joined excited kids at Red Hill Primary School in Canberra to announce the Prime Minister’s Olympic and Paralympic Challenges, which aim to increase the awareness and benefits of sport while promoting the values and ideals of inclusion, fair play and sportsmanship that make the Olympics and Paralympics unique. 

Read the Prime Minister’s media release.

Find out how you can take part in the Prime Minister’s Olympic and Paralympic Challenges by visiting www.olympicchallenge.gov.au or www.paralympicchallenge.gov.au to express your interest and to receive updates in the lead up to the Challenges.

In the Olympic Challenge, primary school children will be able to participate individually or as part of a group (such as their class, school or recreational organisation). Each child and group will accumulate points which will go towards Gold, Silver and Bronze awards based on their level of participation. 

The Paralympic Challenge will build on the existing Paralympic Education Program, which is designed for children and teachers to learn more about Australian Paralympians, the Paralympic movement and people with disabilities in general.

Both Challenges will run across Australia from 28 May 2012 with the Olympic Challenge concluding at the close of the Olympic Games on 12 August and the Paralympic Challenge concluding at the close of the Paralympic Games on 9 September.

Not only will children get to take part in their own mini-Olympic and mini-Paralympic style competitions, but they may even get to meet Olympic and Paralympic Challenge Ambassadors and other Australian athletes throughout the Challenges.

The  Olympic and Paralympic Challenges are an Australian Government initiative working in partnership with the Australian Olympic Committee and the Australian Paralympic Committee.

The Challenges are part of the Government’s strong commitment to increasing physical activity in communities across the country by providing more than $117 million in the 2011/12 Federal Budget to support sports participation initiatives and programs.

Registrations will formally open in April 2012 and the program is free for Australian primary school children to participate.

The Australian Government provides a leading role in sport and is confident the excitement of the Olympic and Paralympic Games will inspire children to get active and enjoy the Challenges.