The nationwide Olympic and Paralympic-style competition is one of the pillars of the legacy plan for London 2012 proposed by the new Sports and Olympic Minister Hugh Robertson.

Politicians and sports officials have already dubbed it the "Schools Olympics" but, under British and international law which fiercely protects Olympic marks and symbols, they are unable to officially call it that without the permission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The subject has already been raised with Jacques Rogge, the President of the IOC, by Colin Moynihan, the chairman of the British Olympic Association (BOA), who are expected to help deliver the event in conjunction with Sport England.

Moynihan told insidethegames: "Both before and post-2012 the use of the 'O' word - the Olympic word - in whatever title is agreed needs the support of the International Olympic Committee.

"They have made it very clear that you cannot call it simply the 'School Olympics', otherwise every country in the world will be having a School Olympics.

"But we are in discussions about whether or not the 'O' word can be used in context with the Games.

"Obviously the British Olympic Association has the word Olympic in its title and that's one option [calling it the British Olympic Association School Games].

"We are also looking at other options."

Up to £10 million ($15.6 million) of National Lottery funding is expected to be spent on organising and promoting the new event, an idea first mooted by the Conservatives when in opposition, in a bid to get more youngsters involved in sport.

The scheme, announced by Culture, Media and Sports Secretary Jeremy Hunt (pictured) and Schools Secretary Michael Gove, in June would encourage schools to take part in a local league, with the most talented primary and secondary school athletes going forward to county finals and then a national final to coincide with the 2012 London Olympics.
 
The rights to the Olympic marks and symbols are currently held, as organisers of the next Games, by London 2012 but revert to the BOA after the Olympics.

Moynihan, who has been visiting here to attend the inaugural Summer Youth Olympic Games, has held talks with senior IOC officials to try to persuade them to let Britain use the word Olympics.

He said: "It's early days and we have had no sign-off from the IOC on what the Games will be called.

"I would hope the word Olympic can be involved in the title - it is already recognised by the press as the School Olympics.

"We have to work with the Government to find out what the best name is.

"When Jacques Rogge came over to London recently we talked about it.

"We have set-up further meetings [with the IOC] in Lausanne and further meetings in London with Ministers to determine what it will be called."

Moynihan hopes a decision can be reached before the end of the year.

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