Londoners Inspired to Leap for London 2012 Games

The London Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has awarded the 1,000th London 2012 Inspire mark to ‘Jump London’, a London based project designed to develop and support the safe teaching and learning of Parkour - also known as Freerunning - by a qualified instructor. Projects awarded the Inspire mark are able to use the special London 2012 Inspire logo to promote their project and show that they are part of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Parkour UK Chief Executive Eugene Minogue, with one of the founders of Parkour/Freerunning and James Bond ‘Casino Royale’ actor Sébastien Foucan, received the award on behalf of ‘Jump London’ from LOCOG Chief Executive Paul Deighton.

The ‘Jump London’ project aims to create 500 new Parkour/Freerunning coaches between now and the Games creating more opportunities for people to participate in the sport of Parkour.

Paul Deighton, LOCOG CEO, said: ‘We’re delighted to award the 1,000th Inspire mark to ‘Jump London’, who are using innovate ways to engage young people from across the capital in sport. The London 2012 Inspire programme is designed to enable non commercial organisations to associate their London 2012 inspired projects with the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Organisations across the UK are using the mark to inspire local communities to be part of the Games.’

Francois Mahop, Parkour UK Chairman, said: ‘Being awarded the Inspire mark is really important to us. Through Parkour we are looking to inspire young people to be active in a fun and exciting way, and being able to link to the London 2012 Games is an incredible opportunity to really enable us to deliver that message.’

Sébastien Foucan, one of the founders of Parkour, said: ‘Being the first of the ‘Jump London’ 500 new coaches to receive the coaching qualification is fantastic! Parkour UK’s ‘Jump London’ project will create hundreds of qualified coaches like me, creating more opportunities to participate in Parkour.’

Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, said: ‘The awarding of the 1000th Inspire Mark is a great achievement and demonstrates how the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games has inspired people all over the country. Today’s award to ‘Jump London’ is a great example of the activities people can get involved with that have the spirit of the Games at their heart.’

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: 'Across the capital and throughout the UK people of all ages are getting involved in 2012, adding to the exciting programme of cultural as well as sporting activity. Parkour exemplifies the energy and dynamism that are hallmarks of the capital, so I am thrilled that ‘Jump London’ is the project that takes us to today's fantastic milestone and urge others to sign up to the Inspire mark.'

‘Jump London’ is the 1000th project to be awarded the London 2012 Inspire mark, the badge of the Inspire programme which recognises projects and events inspired by London 2012. From mass participation dance events to ‘doorstep sport’ projects delivering sports participation programmes to young people where and when they want it, there are Inspire mark projects spanning sport participation, education, sustainability, volunteering and business opportunities & skills taking place across the UK.