A vast majority of school children are keen to try out less traditional Olympic and paralympic sports if given the opportunity.

Research by Lloyds TSB bank has shown that 87 per cent of school-aged children are keen to try a new Olympic or Paralympic sport.

Parents support their children's enthusiasm with 84 percent agreeing that they would like their children to try a new Olympic or Paralympic sport at school with six out of ten parents citing the Games as inspiring their children to do more sport.

Despite the enthusiasm, however, there is a clear lack of opportunities for children to gain access to less traditional sports.

More than 40 percent of Olympic sports have never been tried by 93 percent of children surveyed.

Lord Coe, chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) said: "This research confirms what we witness every time we travel around the UK - that children are excited about the London 2012 Games.

"We want to inspire children to take up sport and ensure that they benefit from the Games coming to the UK."

Lloyds released the findings ahead of the National School Sport Week, which runs from 28 June until 2 July. The bank is organising the initiative in partnership with Youth Sport Trust and part of the London 2012 Get Set education programme.