PM supports Premier plan for fitness

In charge: Richard Scudamore was appointed CEO of the Premier League in November 1999

Matthew Beard13 April 2012

Premier League clubs are to offer thousands of young people the chance to get involved in Olympic sports

All 20 clubs will link up with community sport clubs to help attract young people in their local area and offer them opportunities in badminton, judo, table tennis and volleyball.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Andy Burnham and Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore launched the scheme at Tottenham's training ground this morning.

The £3.4m scheme, called "Premier League 4 Sport", is supported by Government and aims to help young people doing five hours of sport a week.

By working with the sports governing bodies, the Youth Sport Trust and Sport England, the Premier League clubs aim to get 25,000 young people, aged between 11 and 16, to join local clubs in the four Olympic sports.

Burnham said: "This ground-breaking partnership will use football's unique ability to touch the lives of young people and encourage them to take part in more sport."