International Inspiration evaluation report

The International Inspiration programme was conceived from a promise made by Lord Coe in Singapore in 2005 as part of the UK's bid to host in London the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012. The promise was to ‘reach young people all around the world and connect them to the inspirational power of the Games so they are inspired to choose sport’.

Bringing together a unique coalition of partners – UK Sport, the British Council, UNICEF and International Inspiration - the original aim of the programme was to ‘enrich the lives of 12 million children and young people of all abilities in 20 countries around the world through high quality and inclusive sport, physical activity and play’.

The first legacy initiative ever linked to an Olympic and Paralympic Games, it was completed in June 2014 and independently evaluated by Ecorys UK, which found that the programme had far surpassed its original ambition and contributed to positive change at three levels of society in particular:

• Over 25 million children and young people have been inspired
• Over 250,000 practitioners (teacher, coaches and leaders) have been trained, giving future generations around the world a stronger, more sustainable foundation to build local and national sporting systems and structures
• 55 national policies, strategies and legislative changes have been influenced