OLYMPIC athletes are often quick to praise the sporting opportunities they were given in their local areas as youngsters.

As the 2024 Paris Olympics kicks off, figures show how Winchester stacks up when it comes to opportunities to play sport.

Sport England data from October shows there were 388 sports facilities in the area.

While half of these were grass pitches, there were also 24 gyms, 37 sports halls and 19 swimming pools.

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Winchester has plenty of gyms, pools and tennis courts (Image: Tim Goode)

Winchester also has 40 outdoor tennis courts, eight squash courts and an indoor tennis centre.

Analysis from the Office for National Statistics shows places with the fewest facilities per person tend to be in urban areas – with 12 of the worst 15 in London.

Meanwhile, 14 of the 15 areas with the most places to play sport were in rural areas.

Its findings suggest those with a greater number of sports facilities in their area are more likely to be active for more than two and a half hours a week.

However, it cautioned this may be due to "demographic and socio-economic differences between rural, suburban and densely populated areas".

Sport England said it is "laser-focused" on tackling inequalities.

Lisa Dodd-Mayne, an executive director at the organisation, said: "We know that where you live directly impacts how active you are.

"That is why we target our funding and resources to where they are most needed to ensure that the communities in greatest need are able to be physically active in their local area, and we work with partners like the Football Foundation to enhance and improve facilities all over the country."

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Winchester had a sports facility for every 328 residents, or 664 excluding grass pitches.

Across the country these figures were 584 and 1,121 respectively.

Sport England has a "Movement Fund", which offers up to £15,000 for community organisations to provide better opportunities for physical activity.

Across England, around 77% of facilities registered with Sport England are classed as 'publicly accessible' – which includes those that are free to use, 'pay and play', and sports clubs. The remainder are private.

In Winchester, 76% are publicly accessible.

They include the Olympic-standard 400m running track at Bar End and the 50-metre swimming pool at the Sport and Leisure Centre.

A spokesperson for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said: "As the Culture Secretary has made clear, talent is everywhere but opportunity is not and we are committed to giving people of all ages access to sport, including funding grassroots facilities.

"We want to give everyone the chance to emulate their sporting heroes and achieve their dreams, wherever they come from."