British tennis joined Tony Blair to celebrate the sixth anniversary of the Tony Blair Sport Foundation at Walker College in Newcastle.
Since it started in 2007, the Tony Blair Sport Foundation has delivered over 3,500 new sports coaches and run the yearly TBSF Challenge Cup Tennis competition. In 2008, 32 primary schools took part in the yearly competition, rising to 334 in 2012 with more than 2600 children competing. In addition to this, a total of 10,000 children were supported with coaching in primary schools, as part of the wider programme.
Tony Blair Sports Foundation was the winner of the Schools Tennis Award for 2012 for its work in the North East, particularly around the Primary Schools Mini Tennis Competition and by supporting young leaders and coaches.
Tony Blair, who launched the charitable Sports Foundation six years ago this month, said:
"I've been lucky enough over the years to spend a lot of my time in the North East and I know the quality of the people here. These are tough times but we can't give up on making sure that more kids enjoy all the benefits that sport can bring."
Commenting on the important role that sport can play in improving young people's life chances, Tony Blair said:
"Being involved in sport, feeling part of something, and showing commitment can completely change a child's life. It can help improve school performance, and can keep young people on the straight and narrow."
"And, with our region having some of the highest rates of obesity amongst adults and children in England, we have to give our young people the chance to transform their futures by boosting their access to sport. This would help create the North East's very own 2012 legacy of a healthier and happier place to live."
Paul Williams, Schools Tennis Manager said: "We were delighted to show Mr Blair the first-hand the impact our partnership with his Foundation is having, exemplified by the leaders Walker Technology College and budding young tennis players Tyne View Primary School who joined us. Tennis is a sport that's changing – it's becoming more accessible, more inclusive and more relevant to people from all communities – and we're delighted to be working in partnership with the Tony Blair Sports Foundation to help us achieve these goals right across the North East."
Find out more about the Tony Blair Sports Foundation here.
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