A SPORTS programme set up to rekindle last summer's London Olympics has inspired more people to take up sport in Tanzania, according to the National Sports Council (NSC).

NSC Secretary General Henry Lihaya said that more and more youths, especially students, have been inspired to take up sports under the programme dubbed 'International Inspiration' which aims at rekindling last summer's London Olympics spirit.

Lihaya said that there is a real passion to enrich youth's lives through sport, adding that the programme operates in its full throttle in 15 regions in the country including Dar es Salaam, Ruvuma, Mwanza, Arusha, and several others in the isles. The NSC executive made these remarks during an occasion to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Tanzania and British governments for the implementation of the programme.

The MoU aims at cementing a close relationship among the people of both countries and contributes towards the realisation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Present during the signing ceremony were British High Commissioner to Tanzania, Dianna Melrose, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports, Zehaba Nkinga, officials from the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training, Prime Minister's Office Regional Administration and Local Government and the Ministry of Community Development, Gender and Children.

The occasion gave senior figures in sports and education in the country a forum to discuss the effectiveness of the programme.

Under the programme, Tanzania, in collaboration with UK Sport through the NSC, are working with multiple national and international partner to transform the lives of millions of youth and children in schools and communities in the country through the power of high quality and inclusive physical education, sports and play.

Speaking on behalf of the permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports, Nkinga said the programme promises and has continued to enrich the lives of children and young people around the country by inspiring them to participate in sports.

"The programme's legacy has kept its promise to reach 12 million children in 20 countries around the world, Tanzania inclusive. In Tanzania alone at least 2 million youth will be reached by next year," Nkinga said.

The Director of the programme Andrew Piner said that it has already started changing the lives of youth people in Tanzania, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mozambique and Nigeria. Others are Pakistan, Palau, South Africa, Uganda, Turkey, Trinidad, Zambia, Jordan and Tobago.