Maths and Sport: Countdown to the Games

'Maths and Sport: Countdown to the Games' is an exciting new project from the award-winning Millennium Mathematics Project at the University of Cambridge.

To celebrate London 2012 we're developing free online mathematical resources exploring maths and science through the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Resources are divided into two types of content - activities for students aged 5 to 18 (UK Key Stages 1 through to 5 - most including teachers' notes) and articles aimed at older students and the interested general reader.

You can find our articles and activities, arranged by Key Stage, using the tabs at the top of the page, or view content by sport or topic. We'll continue to publish new content throughout the run-up to the 2012 Games.

In addition to our free online resources, we've also developed a Maths of Sport Roadshow which can visit your school for a hands-on maths event.

To receive advance notice of events and alerts about new resources, sign up for our email newsletter, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Featured activity: Olympic Torch Relay survey Do you live within 10 miles of the Olympic Torch Relay route? Vote in our poll, then look at the results. What factors might affect our survey? This data handling activity can be approached at a number of different levels by students at Key Stages 2, 3 or 4, and comes with detailed teachers' notes.	Featured article: Leaning into 2012 This article explores the Velodrome, the first of the London 2012 venues to be completed. With its sweeping curved roof and cedar clad exterior the Velodrome is a stunning building. But what athletes are most excited about is the elegant wooden cycle track enclosed inside. How does its geometry contribute to speed?
Featured activity: Olympic Starters How do you compare to these results from Olympic Games in the past if you try similar running and jumping activities? This activity uses the history of the Olympic Games to introduce ideas about measuring time and distances in standard units, and is aimed at primary pupils at Key Stage 2.	Featured activity: The Olympic Torch Tour If you were planning the Olympic Torch relay, how could you find the most efficient route for the Torch to take? This more challenging activity is designed to be accessible to GCSE maths students (Key Stage 4), and is accompanied by detailed teaching notes and worksheets.

'Maths and Sport: Countdown to the Games' has been awarded the Inspire Mark, the badge of the London 2012 Inspire Programme. The London 2012 Inspire programme recognises exceptional and innovative projects that are directly inspired by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. 'Maths and Sport: Countdown to the Games' is also part of Get Set +, the London 2012 education programme, and features in the Practical Learning strand. Schools and colleges across the UK using our resources can join the Get Set network.

Our 'Maths and Sport: Countdown to the Games' project has been funded by grants from the Nuffield Foundation, the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, and the award of the Gresham Prize by Gresham College. We are very grateful to all for their generous support. Also inspired by London 2012, the Nuffield Foundation has developed a set of cross-curricular STEM activities for 11-14 year olds, Nuffield STEM Games, and Gresham College has organised a series of free public lectures on Mathematics and Sport.