SPORT in Worcester has thrived over the past decade and with London staging the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 there is ample opportunity for youngsters in the area to become involved with the biggest sporting occasion on earth.

Last week's National Lottery Day celebrated the investment into good causes throughout Britain, and Worcester has benefited from over £1.9million invested into sport in the area.

Groups such as Rushwick Cricket Club, Worcester Rowing Club, West Midlands Amateur Gymnastics Club and Worcester Wolves Basketball Club have all received funding, through Sport England, to help improve facilities and purchase equipment.

Worcester has a great tradition with cricket and the county cricket club received a National Lottery grant of £200,000 in 2002 to develop and improve the facility.

Mark Newton, the club's chief executive, said: "It is great that the National Lottery has invested money in to Worcestershire County Cricket Club.

"From the grassroots programme to the professional game, the club will no doubt benefit."

One of the largest investments in the area was an award of £1.7milion, through the Big Lottery Fund, for Tenbury High School to provide a four-court sports hall at the school which will offer pupils and the local community a facility on their doorstep.

It's not just the large awards that make the difference though. Worcester Canoe Club received a grant of £2,000 to provide turbo-training paddling machines that can be used year-round, while Lyppard Rangers used an investment of £550 to develop children's football in Worcester.

These are all facilities that will help any potential Olympian or Paralympian in the area.

Malvern's Liam Killeen competed at the 2004 Olympic Games in the mountain bike event, where he was placed fifth. He has personally benefited from The National Lottery over the past few years.

"I receive Lottery funding though UK Sport to help finance my cycling, and this has been an enormous benefit to me," said Killeen.

"I had the opportunity to experience international competition when I was still a junior in my late teens, as funding helped pay for equipment and training."

Killeen first watched the Olympics on television as a child and says that it inspired him to want to take up sport -- and hopes that youngsters throughout the area will also take up the chance to compete.

The National Lottery has announced an investment of £1.5billion towards staging the Games in London in 2012.