London 2012 may seem a world away, but children at schools in York are already stepping up their game for the build-up. Education reporter Haydn Lewis takes a look at a scheme which could see Olympic athletes in York to help rally the troops.

MEET Phillips Idowu, the gold medal-winning English triple jumper.

He won the silver medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games and clinched gold in the same event at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

As of July this year, Idowu was ranked number three in the world for triple jump - and he could be coming to a primary school near you.

School pupils from York are being invited to take part in a new health campaign to teach them all about the importance of drinking water.

Statistics have shown that 87 per cent of children don't drink enough water.

The new Aqua-Pura Champions campaign, launched by the Aqua-Pura mineral water brand, will give youngsters the chance to learn about water - why we need it to stay healthy, what our bodies need it for and why it's so important to drink when playing and exercising.

Members of the Norwich Union Great Britain & Northern Ireland Athletics Team will be visiting selected schools who sign up to the campaign, to stress the importance of hydration and to inspire them to stay involved in sport by leading athletics training sessions, and take part in question and answer sessions with pupils.

Teachers can also download a free national curriculum-based Aqua-Pura Champions activity pack, aimed at pupils aged five to 14.

The pack contains a variety of materials for teachers to use in class, covering subjects including geography, PE, English and IT.

Parents can also download the pack to help encourage good hydration in the home.

Chris Wright, of Aqua-Pura, said: "We want to help York kids of all ages - from early school years to early teens - to learn more about why water is so important to their health, especially in relation to exercise.

"The Aqua-Pura Champions national curriculum pack is full of group activity ideas and learning materials that are suitable for children. We hope that local schools, groups and parents will seize this opportunity to stress the importance of good, healthy drinking habits and get involved in our campaign."

To register their interest and download the free national curriculum pack, people can visit www.aqua-pura.com