On Thursday 26 April 2012, the Minister for Sport, Senator the Hon Kate Lundy officially launched the Prime Minister’s Olympic and Paralympic Challenges and declared that registrations were open. These two individual Challenges are aimed at inspiring Australians, particularly primary-school aged children regardless of their background, culture or ability, to be more active and play sport more regularly.

The Prime Minister’s Olympic and Paralympic Challenges will tap into the spirit of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, encouraging primary school-aged children to participate for a gold, silver, bronze or participation certificate, emulating their heroes competing in London.

The Australian Government, in partnership with the Australian Olympic Committee and the Australian Paralympic Committee, has developed the Prime Minister’s Olympic Challenge and the Prime Minister’s Paralympic Challenge.

These two individual Challenges will encourage all Australian primary school-aged children to try a variety of Olympic and Paralympic sports whilst developing valuable life skills such as inclusion, fair play and sportsmanship.

Minister for Sport, Senator the Hon Kate Lundy said:'I encourage Australian primary schools, after-school care centres, sporting organisations and primary school-aged children to register today! We want to get young children away from their PlayStations, away from Facebook, we want to get them outside playing sport.

’We know the benefits of sport in terms of life skills, team skills, communication and work ethic; these are all the things young Australians learn from playing sport.’

The Challenges will provide a unique experience for children and act as a pathway to achieving such skills.

Both the Prime Minister’s Olympic and Paralympic Challenges begin on 28 May 2012. The Prime Minister’s Olympic Challenge will conclude at the close of the London 2012 Olympic Games and the Prime Minister’s Paralympic Challenge will conclude at the close of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Register your child, school or organisation for the Prime Minister’s Olympic Challenge at www.olympicchallenge.gov.au

Register your school for the Prime Minister’s Paralympic Challenge at www.paralympicchallenge.gov.au.