2012 Games initiative reaches six million children

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - A British initiative to enthuse children around the world about sport inspired by the 2012 London Olympics is halfway toward its target of reaching 12 million.

Games chief Sebastian Coe, the twice 1500 meters Olympic champion, revealed the landmark had been passed by the campaign, International Inspiration, during his trip this week to India.

"The Indian chapter has been a huge success. When we won the bid in Singapore (in 2005), we had promised to reach out to 12 million children and we have reached six million," Coe told reporters after meeting students, some of them disabled, at a New Delhi school.

"Six million is the halfway mark and we have another two years (to achieve the target)."

Coe was accompanied by another former middle-distance Olympic double champion, Kelly Holmes, and five-time Olympic rowing gold medalist Steve Redgrave in Thursday's visit.

India was one of the first countries included in the program two years ago. Since then, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Bangladesh, Jordan, Mozambique, Palau, Trinidad and Tobago and Zambia have also been brought under it.

In all, International Inspiration is aiming to reach 12 million children in 20 developing countries by 2012.

(Editing by Jon Bramley)