Kingston’s sporting stars of the future helped mark the handover of the Paralympic torch and the countdown to London 2012.

As the games came to a close in Beijing, local wheelchair racer Jonathan Smith, 16, of Kingston was joined by local dignitaries and young athletes at a simultaneous handover held at Fulham Football Club’s Motspur Park training ground on Tuesday.

The day also helped to launch the Kingston Community Sport and Physical Activity Network (CSPAN) which has just been awarded £357,000 by Sports England and the Premier League Professional Football Association to develop and deliver sporting opportunities across the borough for disabled athletes, girls and women.

The successful bid was a joint effort between Kingston Council, Fulham Football Club Community Sports Trust and Kingston Volunteer Centre and Hilary Garner, chair of CSPAN, said he hoped the project would give people who would not usually participate, the chance to access sport.

“This is not just a flash in the pan,” he said.

“This is money for Kingston and will provide a wide portal of sporting opportunities for the residents of the borough.”

The CSPAN project works with local organisations such as Kingston College, Kingston Primary Care Trust and Age Concern with a joint aim of making the borough more active.

One of the projects supported by CSPAN is the Mind Exercise Nutrition Do it (MEND) programme for overweight children in the borough run by Kingston Primary Care Trust.

Mr Smith, who is training for 2012 Paralympic glory said: “It’s an honour to be here and to be asked to carry the torch.

“I’m hoping all my training will pay off.”