Two Rover Combined Events Initiative Centres were launched at Crystal Palace this month (16 May).

The partnership between car manufacturer, Rover and UK Athletics, which was agreed in December last year, aims to encourage school children to get involved in combined events such as the decathlon and heptathlon.

Fifteen centres are to open across the UK in April and May 2002, and the London programme, covering school children both north and south of the Thames with centres based at Crystal Palace and the New River facility in Haringey, will place emphasis on identifying talent and directing children towards competitions.

Selected children will be invited to attend squad training days in the summer. The programme will also target coaches. Details: +44(0)20 7611 3579