Health experts want to see a fitter Wales

The first wave of grants from the Big Lottery Fund will benefit 18 schools. The funding is part of a programme which will see �50m distributed in Wales alone by the end of 2004.

Under the scheme, Pentrehafod School in Swansea will receive more than �900,000 for a new four-court sports hall for use by pupils and the local community.

David Evans, Swansea Council's Director of Regeneration, said the award was an important one for young people in the area.

"The plan for extra sports facilities is great news," he said.

"The health of everyone in Swansea is an important issue.

These facilities will allow people of all ages to benefit from sports activities, and will help keep people fit and lower the risk of conditions such as heart attacks and obesity."

Communities in Denbighshire are also celebrating. The county has received three awards from the fund, totalling nearly �1m.

At Christchurch Community Primary School, a �233,000 award will be used to build a multi-purpose games area and modernise an existing gymnasium.

Elsewhere in the county, Ysgol Glan Clwyd pupils are looking forward to a new artificial turf pitch, while Ysgol Brynhyfred's gymnasium and changing area will be refurbished.

Cynffig Comprehensive School in Bridgend has been awarded �532,999. The money will be used to build a four court sports barn, and there are hopes it will encourage more women and girls to participate in sports.

Tom Davies, a board member for the Big Lottery Fund in Wales, said it was hoped that other schools would benefit soon.

"Local authorities across Wales have submitted bids that will take up all of the money left in the pot, and we are assessing these as quickly as possible," he said.

The fund's New Opportunities for PE and Sport programme is the single largest lottery investment in education Wales has seen.

The programme complements the Welsh assembly's plans to improve physical education in schools.