Double Olympic gold medallist Kelly Holmes believes the mix of sports provided by the Kent School Games is a major factor in its popularity and success.

More than 30,000 young people, aged five to 16, will compete in 38 different sports, including disability sports, during the 2010 event which got under way this month.

And Dame Kelly says that bringing different types of activities into schools is important for sport to have a wider appeal.

She said: "When I was at school the traditional sports were there. Everyone did cross-country, hockey, netball and football but not all children like those sports so unless you bring that variety you won’t engage everyone.

"The Games enables young people with disabilities the chance to participate in an environment they would never normally get the chance to, as well as those people who aren’t really keen on sport but want to do some activity."

Dame Kelly thinks youngsters can learn a lot of things that will serve them well now and later in life through competing in events such as the Games.

She said: "Competition was a word that people used to not want to bring to the forefront but it has to be competitive.

"You have to have sport that has a competitive angle but in a fun way as well, because life is competitive.

"We need to instill in young people that sometimes people lose. You don’t win everything in life, you pick yourself up, learn from it and move forward. That is what sport can bring.

"Sport has so many qualities for young people. The health benefits are one but communication skills are really important for young people now, as is working with peers."

The former Great Britain middle distance runner is delighted to see so many people getting involved with the Games.

She believes the event has been such a success in Kent that it will be duplicated elsewhere in the United Kingdom. "There are youngsters, along with their teachers and parents, getting involved with a variety of sports that aren’t just about Olympics or Olympic level but having fun and participating," she said.

"With 38 sports and over 30,000 people taking part in heats over eight months until the finals, it is a massive event.

"There isn’t anything else like this in the UK and I am pushing for this to be replicated in other counties so we can have a national finals. It is early stages but people are interested in the model for the games in the immediate area around us such as Essex, Surrey and East Sussex.

"We’re so close to London for 2012 that we can make our young people feel part of that journey by hosting this now and potentially again in 2012.

"But this isn’t something like the Games that will stop at 2012. This is something that can grow and if we can get it nationally then it will be something we can leave as a legacy."