SCHOOLS in Greater Manchester are to get a £35m National Lottery windfall to help them improve sports facilities.
The cash is part of a £541m boost, the largest-ever lottery investment in school sports to provide state-of-the-art sports equipment and give existing facilities a new lease of life.
The Prime Minister Tony Blair said today that every young person deserved the chance to take part in sport and PE of the highest quality and modernising facilities in schools was a crucial part of creating that opportunity.
''Sport is also a key weapon in our fight against social exclusion, crime and drugs, giving thousands of young people the chance to choose a positive, healthy lifestyle,'' said Mr Blair.
The money comes from the National Lottery's New Opportunities Fund and nearly £90m will go to the north west - £35m for Greater Manchester, £12m for Lancashire and £4.8m for Cheshire.
Manchester will get £8.8m, Wigan £4.3m, Bolton £3.4m, Bury £1.7m, Oldham £3.3m, Rochdale £2.8m, Salford £2.9m, Stockport £2.1m, Tameside £3.3m and Trafford £1.6m.
Modern facilities
The £541m national handout was launched by the Culture, Media and Sports Secretary Tessa Jowell at a London school. It will support the creation of new sports facilities, and modernise indoor and outdoor facilities.
Ms Jowell says the government has already provided funding for a network of a thousands schools sports co-ordinators in schools, and already 350 of them are in place in secondary schools, and set up 250 specialist sports colleges.
Plans for spending the extra cash are being co-ordinated by local education authorities who will consult with schools within their areas and liase with national sporting bodies.
Coun Bernard Stone, Manchester city council's executive member for education said: ''Manchester is a city which prides itself on its sporting endeavours, as our hosting of the Commonwealth Games next year demonstrates.
''We are firmly committed to the principal of sport for all.''
Manchester's chief education officer David Johnston said: ''There is strong evidence in Manchester that good-quality PE and sport provision improve pupil attendance and have a positive effect on behaviour.''
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