IN an ambitious move by the Sports Council sports equipment, training for teachers, coaching and places to play are to be provided for every child in the North West from the age of four. The big push towards junior sport started last Thursday when it was announced that the National Junior Sport programme is to provide four million children with - a sporting chance.

It will provide new opportunities for schools, local authorities and a host of sport and youth organisations to work together to provide more - and better - quality sporting opportunities for four to 18-year-olds in a planned, co-ordinated way.

In April new schemes across the region will mean that nearly 200 primary schools, their teachers and 50,000 children be involved. And gradually, all the region's schools will be getting the same sporting chance.

Says Sports Council chairman Rodney Walker : "We have an ambition to have fitter children who feel good about themselves and are physically and socially more adept.

"They will have the opportunity to develop teamwork skills and healthy, physically active habits that will last them their lifetimes.

"For many children we intend it will also be the pathway from the school playground to the international sporting arena."

The £14 million funding for the project is coming from several sources. The National Lottery Sports Fund will provide £7.7 million, the Sports Council between £2 million and £3 million.

Other sources are expected to be the Youth Sport Trust and business sponsorship.

In the next 12 months the Sports Council's North West Region is to spend £50,000 on training teachers and a further £250,000 to ensure that once children are interested in sport they can find opportunities to join local clubs.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.