7th November 2024 – London Sport and Decathlon have renewed their partnership for a third year, continuing to work together to make sport accessible to more Londoners.
The organisations have marked the renewal by joining forces with Equip Sport, whose innovative locker system provides free, on-demand access to sports gear through a simple app. In partnership with Decathlon and backed by London Sport, the lockers will now roll out in key areas – including Newham and Decathlon’s Canada Water store – strategically chosen to support communities with the greatest need for accessible sports resources.
Equip Sport lockers will be stocked with basketball, ping pong, soccer, tennis and volleyball equipment, empowering residents to easily participate in sports and fostering a more active, healthy community. With the app, users can easily locate, reserve, and unlock equipment with just a few taps on their smartphones, offering a seamless and convenient experience.
Tanya Rabin, Director of Fundraising, Marketing and Communications at London Sport, said: “We’re so pleased to have extended our partnership with Decathlon who share our ambition to change lives through fairer access to sport and physical activity. Working together to pilot innovative solutions, like the equipment lockers with Equip Sports, will help to remove barriers to participation and build healthier, more inclusive communities across London.”
London Sport and Decathlon’s partnership focuses on initiatives aimed at bringing the joys of sport and physical activity to those in the most deprived communities, particularly young girls, who face the greatest challenges of inequality and barriers to participation. Previously, Decathlon provided a venue, equipment, and other resources during a 3-month ‘Space for Girls’ programme, which saw high attendance, providing what was needed to ensure young women could take part in engaging sessions in a safe and welcoming environment.
Looking forward, Decathlon will be providing special discounts for London Sport’s Opening Schools Facilities project, a grant scheme helping schools open their facilities outside of school hours for their pupils, local young people and the wider community.
The partnership will also extend to the 2025 London Marathon, where Decathlon will supply training and race-day kits for London Sport runners, who raise significant funds each year through charity entries.
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About London Sport
London Sport is a charity helping all Londoners live longer, healthier, and happier lives through being active, with a focus on children and adults in the most deprived communities who face the greatest challenges of inequality. It tackles disparities between access and opportunity in physical activity and sport, as a solution to wider societal inequalities.
It is supported by Sport England and the Mayor of London, and collaborates with London’s local authorities and other organisations, to remove barriers and provide fairer access to sport and physical activity across the capital. Its work specifically addresses underlying inequalities in sporting provision, particularly for those in underserved communities who face the greatest challenges to leading an active life.
For more information on London Sport, visit www.londonsport.org.
Media Contacts
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