More than 80,000 teens and young adults have been inspired to get active in the first nine months of the Sportivate initiative, receiving coaching in an activity of their choice.

And in the past three months alone – as excitement around the London Games takes hold – almost 50,000 14- to 25-year-olds have taken part.

Meanwhile, hundreds of the young people who completed their sports course and then continued to play sport for at least three months are set to receive free Olympics and Paralympics tickets after being entered into a ballot through the London 2012 Ticketshare initiative.

Minister for Sport and the Olympics, Hugh Robertson said:

“Sportivate shows how hosting the Olympic and Paralympics Games is inspiring young people to take up sport. Congratulations to all the projects across the country involved.”

Today three of the 6,428 Sportivate projects that have taken place across the country have been recognised for their inspiring work and will now receive awards from Hugh Robertson. These are:

• Twilight Football which organises football matches for teenagers on Friday evenings in Ipswich. The project has been linked to a decrease in anti-social behaviour in the area with police figures showing that anti-social behaviour has fallen by 16%.
• CanDance which has created six new youth dance groups in Cumbria after a consultation revealed a lack of inclusive opportunities for young people with learning disabilities such as autism.
• Rowing in 2012 which has worked with more than 100 young people in Buckinghamshire. The project worked with local schools, colleges, young offender institutions and groups supporting young disabled people.

To find about more about the scheme, visit the Sport England website.