AN ambitious six-year project to encourage the people of Newport to 'go for gold' to improve their health, is being welcomed by members of Newport Local Health Board (LHB).

The Going For Gold scheme would seek to include everyone from schoolchildren to senior citizens, focusing on cycling, walking and swimming, allied to a strong Newport brand.

The aim is to use the countdown to the 2012 London Olympics and a consequent higher profile of sport and exercise, and the growth of Newport's own sporting and leisure facilities to stimulate interest in healthier lifestyles.

The project requires LHB and city council support, and funding remains an issue, but they will develop it further. LHB member Keith Dunn called it "a terrific idea."

"This will give the people of Newport an opportunity to make a difference to their health. If we work together we can help them make that difference," he said.

The emphasis of Going For Gold would be on getting people moving and may involve the mass distribution of a passport for health, in which people could record their achievements.

It would not be about competition between individuals or teams, but a challenge for people to improve their own health. Suggestions include a gold, silver and bronze-type grading system to measure accomplishments, with participants' age and fitness taken into account.

Newport-related themes would be used, with the area encompassing the city's four main bridges possibly used as a focus for an event such as a mini-triathlon to mark the gold standard.

Schools and leisure centres would be encouraged to include exercise and other elements of the project in their activities, local sporting clubs could become involved, and collaboration with or recognition of people's achievements in existing schemes such as cycling proficiency, swimming association awards, and the Duke of Edinburgh Awards might be sought.

There would be emphasis too on promotion of healthy living, subjects such as the role of exercise and diets, and possibly the acquisition of skills such as first aid and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.

"As far as I know, nothing as grand has been tried anywhere else," said Dr Chris Potter, the LHB's director of public health.