MORE than 400 people in Redbridge have tried new sports as part of a 2012 Olympics scheme.

The London Development Agency’s (LDA) Summer of Sport and Winter of Sport programmes were designed to get more people active in the run up to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

A total of 451 residents took part in six events in the borough and have more than 18,000 people in London have taken part overall.

One of the key goals of the project was to increase sports participation among disabled people, and working alongside London Sports Forum for Disabled People the take up rate for this group was 19 per cent above the current sports participation rate for disabled people in London.

The project, which this year will be part of the Mayor of London’s Play Sport London initiative, funded London sports clubs to put on 229 events where people could turn up and receive expert coaching.

Participants were then signposted to similar activities in their area so they could continue playing.

LDA director of Olympic opportunity Geoff Newton said: “Helping more than 18,000 people to play sport is a tremendous achievement and for many it was the first time they had received any form of coaching.

"Around 70 per cent of people received six hours or more coaching which means they are far more likely to carry on playing those sports at their local clubs."

Stewart Lucas CEO of London Sports Forum for Disabled People said: “Inclusion is at the heart of this project and the 19 per cent participation rate by disabled people shows inclusive activity works.

"I know the future ‘Play Sport London’ initiative will build on this, and encourage even more disabled people to participate in sport in the capital.”

Sport England previously invested £200,000 in the London Summer of Sport and has recently awarded the London Development Agency £250,000 of National Lottery funding towards Play Sport London.

For more information about this years sport programme visit london.gov.uk/playsport