The largest ever lottery-funded sports facilities programme has been launched by the New Opportunities Fund. The New Opportunities for PE and Sport programme is part of a £750m UK-wide initiative announced by the Prime Minister last year. The money will be used to fund new sports facilities and modernise existing ones in schools, as well as promoting sport in the wider community. The Prime Minister is enthusiastic about the potential the funding will help realise. 'Sport is a key weapon in our fight against social exclusion, crime and drugs, giving people new opportunities the chance to choose a positive healthy lifestyle,' he said . Funding has been allocated across England's regions according to levels of deprivation. The North West receives the most, scooping £89m, London will gain more than £81m and the West Midlands gets over £61m. Plans for spending the money will be submitted to the New Opportunities Fund by local education authorities by next April. Distribution of the funding is expected to begin in September 2002. Announcement of funds for Northern Ireland and Scotland are expected early next year.
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