We are always in favour of getting kids outside away from the computer and TV, and this week we have a great opportunity in introducing a bit of active competition with it being National School Sport Week. Organised by the Youth Sport Trust, this has been held every year since 2008 and in the past six years it has seen millions of school children and young people take part.

This year the theme is all about staging your own version of the Olympic Games, so that we can keep all the excitement of the 2012 Games, which were held in London and encourage more young people to get involved in sport.

So why not hold your own opening ceremony, and why not invite a local dignitary or the residents of your local care home. You could even hold a small parade. Taking part in events like these gives everyone a chance to try out a new sport. We all have to try to raise the profile of sport in our schools and our local communities. The more active kids can be, then the less chance of them becoming obese and the healthier they are likely to be.

Since 2009 over 9.5 million young people and over 22,000 schools have taken part and this year they are hoping for more to be involved. As well as the this year’s theme, they are asking all participants to pledge that they will take part in five hours of PE and sport over the week.

You can even get parents involved. I see that one of the schools in Macclesfield, Ash Grove, is holding a parents v pupils rounders match and a parents v pupils Kwik Cricket match. Nice to see the parents getting a bit of exercise too.

So grab your t-shirts and shorts and get involved, no excuses or you will be participating in your vest and pants – how times have changed with the kit that is available now!