Sport England In London

The National Lottery funded 2012 hot air balloon was in Regent's Park, London this morning as part of the Places People Play legacy program of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Sports Minister Hugh Robertson and Sport England launched a £10 million fund to protect and improve sports fields across the country.
Protecting Playing Fields will help communities to enhance local playing fields or create new sports pitches.

The initiative is part of the Places People Play legacy programme, which aims to help bring to life the inspiration of a home Olympic and Paralympic Games for communities all over the country.

Mr Robertson said: "As part of hosting the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games we want to offer people better facilities and more opportunities to play sport. This £10 million lottery investment will help achieve that. Not only will it further protect playing fields from developers, but also create new ones and improve pitches up and down the country."

Sport England's Chair, Richard Lewis, said: "Playing fields are the places where many young people have their first experience of sport, where sporting dreams come true and where communities come together. Protecting Playing Fields is about safeguarding and enhancing those spaces - and creating new, high-quality playing pitches where the next generation can enjoy sport. This is a great chance to bring the sporting legacy to life in your community."

Cricket star Mike Gatting was also on hand to guide the local cricket teams whilst softball, volleyball and touch rugby were also taking place in the park.

The balloon - G-CGNL - will be touring the UK again later this year, details will be released online soon...

Pictures: Richard Gahan