Brown wants competitive school sport

PRIME Minister Gordon Brown has outlined plans for a return to competitive sport in schools, in a bid to create a new generation of Olympic champions for the London Games in 2012.

Mr Brown promised the games would be the "best Olympics ever" as the torch was passed to London at the close of the Beijing sporting extravaganza.

He praised Team GB's Olympic heroes, who had "captured the imagination of our country" and hoped they would inspire youngsters for the future.

The Prime Minister, in Beijing for the closing ceremony of the Olympics, said he wanted to end the "medals-for-all culture" and bring back the competitive element to school games.

He also called for children to be given the chance of becoming involved in a greater range of sports and even suggested the return of boxing to the school gym.

In particular, Mr Brown said he wanted to enlist the women stars of the Beijing Games, such as Rebecca Adlington, Christine Ohuruogo and Victoria Pendleton, to overcome the reluctance of many girls to take up sport.

Culture Secretary Andy Burnham will announce a "further substantial investment" in out-of-school sports this week on top the £100 million promised by Mr Brown last year in his final Budget as Chancellor.