More than 1,000 young people in Hertfordshire are taking part in a School Games Festival today (17 June) - part of a government bid to "revive" competitive school sport in the UK.

The event is one of nine pilot initiatives being carried out across the country ahead of a new national School Games competition, which is scheduled to launch in September.

It is hoped that the competition will use the inspiration of next summer's London Games to increase the number of young people participating in competitive sport. Meanwhile, an action plan has been developed in order to boost disability sports in schools, which will see the participation rates of young disabled people measured.

The new plan also aims to increase the number of sports on offer for disabled children; and more direct guidance and support for schools and teachers. New and innovative ways to enhance chances for disabled young people will be pioneered by the top 50 'trailblazing schools', while a new all-inclusive competition is also planned to enable disabled and able-bodied children to compete against each other.

Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "The School Games will revive competitive sport in thousands of schools up and down the country, and will be a key part of the sporting legacy of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. "And we are going to level the playing field for young disabled athletes by giving them more opportunities to play sport."