Starting Blocks is designed to inspire, motivate and engage young people in the classroom

London 2017 Ltd has unveiled 'Starting Blocks', the official education programme supporting the World Para Athletics Championships and IAAF World Championships London 2017.

As part of the build-up to this year's summer of sport, teachers across the UK can get their students involved with the free education programme, which is designed to inspire, motivate and engage young people.

The digital hub will provide free, curriculum-linked resources for teachers of pupils aged five to 14 and all resources are specially designed to open young people’s eyes to new opportunities and experiences through classroom activities and whole-school ideas.

Three themes will connect students to the summer’s biggest sporting event:

• 'Summer of World Athletics' introduces young people to the events and excitement of the summer and to the sport of athletics in PE and Sport.
• 'The World in One City' celebrates the 200 nations who will come together to compete and their unique cultures using maths and numeracy.
• 'Faces of Summer' uses English and literacy to showcase the people who will make the summer great including athletes, their support teams, volunteers, sponsors and organisers.

Championship organisers have already begun engaging with young people by offering all schools in Greater London access to a special package for the World Para Athletics Championships at a discounted rate of £3 per ticket. With applications from over 500 schools to date, there is still time to apply before the February 10 deadline at www.london2017athletics.com/schools.

In addition to offering discounted tickets and free resources, London 2017 Ltd has partnered with iconic BBC children’s television show Blue Peter for a nationwide competition. Young people aged six to 15 are invited to design two championship mascots and the results will be judged by Olympic gold medallist Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill and two-time Paralympic gold medallist Richard Whitehead MBE.

Starting Blocks has been developed in partnership with leading educational consultancy EdComs, which is responsible for Get Set, the British Olympic Association and British Paralympic Association’s youth engagement programme.

"Following the successful launch of our official schools ticket offer and mascot design competition, Starting Blocks once again demonstrates our commitment to inspire, motivate and engage young people not just in London but around the UK," said Niels de Vos, championship director for the World Para Athletics Championships and IAAF World Championships London 2017.

"We are proud to be hosting the biggest sporting event in the world in 2017. The Championships will be an inspirational summer of world-class sport with a chance for everyone to take part.

"We want the magic of London 2017 to act as an inspiration for young people and I believe both pupils and teachers will benefit from the exciting and topical resources offered by Starting Blocks."

To find out more, visit www.london2017athletics.com/schools.