The 2012 London Games will be a wonderful sporting and cultural festival - a spectacular series of events that will excite the country. Longer term, the Games should bring a range of social and economic benefits to both London and the nation.

The Department, jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), are the Government Departments responsible for ensuring that the educational benefits of the Games are maximised nationally and provide a lasting legacy, particularly to the children and young people of the 2012 Olympic generation.

Children and young people are at the heart of this plan and we want schools, colleges and all young people, including those outside formal learning, to be inspired to take part in activities linked to the 2012 Games.

The education legacy of the London 2012 Games will be a generation inspired by and embracing the Olympic and Paralympic Values - friendship, respect, excellence, determination, inspiration courage and equality - to make a positive contribution; to be more outward-looking within their communities, nationally and internationally; and to adopt healthy and active lifestyles by participation in sport or other activities.