An initiative aiming to inspire primary school children and their families to try new activities together in the run up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games has been launched nationwide in English primary schools.

The Travel to Tokyo project aims to broaden families’ knowledge and understanding of recommended physical activity levels, to support them to build basic physical competence and enjoyment, and to target support to less active families from lower socio-economic groups.

All primary schools in England will be contacted about the project, giving it a potential reach of more than 300,000 children and half a million family members.

The project, which will run until December 2020, targets children aged five to 11 years old. It has received £2.6m worth of funding from Sport England and will be delivered in partnership with British Olympic and Paralympic associations and their Get Set activation programme.

“Our challenge is to turn the excitement and inspiration of international sporting events like the Olympics and the Paralympics into action by supporting more children and families to try new sports or activities and become regularly active,” said Mike Diaper, Sport England's executive director of children and young people and tackling inactivity.

“This programme does just that, by creating a fun way for families to get active together, regardless of their level of experience.

“We know the importance of how working and playing together as family can build active habits.

“Children from active families are far more likely to take a positive attitude to playing sport or being active into their adult lives.”