The school sport partnership (SSP) scheme is a fantastic way of introducing children of all ages to sports they may not necessarily have ever heard of or tried before, while also providing links to clubs that offer these sports in the community. It also provides an opportunity for children who may not ordinarily participate in organised physical activity to enjoy recreational sport rather than feel pressurised to compete with other students who in many cases will be more athletic. What Mr. Gove is proposing (i.e. the 'schools Olympics’ idea) threatens to narrow the diversity of sports offered through the SSP and more importantly alienate the precise group of children we want to target for increasing activity: the sedentary. Children who are sedentary face increased risk of life threatening conditions later in life and diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis and high levels of 'low density' cholesterol to name but a few. These children can be intimidated by other, more athletic, peers and therefore shy away from taking part in any form of competition. Introducing yet another inter-schools competition, while potentially increasing the competitive nature of athletic students, will not address the problem of increasing activity in the sedentary group of children. I am a great fan of competitive sport, and would actively encourage children to take part in such activity, however, the 'Schools Olympics' is merely a whimsical scheme based on the forthcoming 2012 Olympics that will give the best athletes in schools another 'pat on the back' while excluding the inactive youth. We are in danger of creating a system similar to that of America's, whereby sport within schools is highly competitive, but links to clubs in the community are few and far between. This inevitably leads to a high drop-out rate even for the most athletic students. I sincerely hope Mr. Gove realises his mistake in the proposed cuts to the school sports partnership which not only provides schools with essential links to sports clubs in the community, but also provides even the most sedentary children with an opportunity to enjoy sport without the pressure of competition. Please support our cause in this petition and change the mind of Michael Gove and the coalition government.