MORE than 580 young people in Devon have been inspired to do sport in their spare time during the first six months of Sport England's Sportivate initiative — part of the Olympic and Paralympic legacy, with 33,000 youngsters having taken part nationally.

Responding to the legacy pledge made by Seb Coe, the chair of the London Olympics 2012 organising committee, Sportivate is aimed at 14 to 25 year olds who currently are not playing sport in their own time. The programme helps them find a sport they will enjoy and a club or venue where they can continue to take part. 588 young people in Devon have joined the programme.

Tim Doidge, 18, lives in Okehampton and is one of the young people who has received six to eight weeks of coaching in a sport of their choice. Tim attended the OCRA basketball sessions, and enjoyed the programme: 'It's been great having basketball coaching sessions supported by Sportivate, there's a great buzz around basketball locally and I really look forward to the regular weekly session. We are currently arranging a match and I am about to take my level one coaching.'

Sport England's chair, Richard Lewis, said: 'We're delighted that so many young people in Devon have been inspired to get involved in sport through Sportivate. This is what the Olympic and Paralympic legacy is all about and it's fantastic to hear about all those finding a new passion for sport.'

n Anyone aged 14 to 25 interested in finding out more visit the website http://www.activedevon.org/sportivate">www.activedevon.org/sportivate