SPRINT king Darren Campbell cantered into York's Bootham School yesterday to encourage pupils to get out and get fit.

The Olympic silver medalist at 200metres was at the school as part of the Norwich Union campaign 'Do the Right Thing', aimed at enabling children to enjoy sport and exercise.

And the Sale Harrier, who also played non-League football as a youth, had the Bootham pupils enthralled as he gave an insight into life in athletics and why it is important to keep fit.

"It is a very important message and we are thankful that such a big company as Norwich Union are backing it," said Campbell, who has a host of championship medals from a glittering sprint career.

"It is important not just sports people, but business people as well, get behind such initiatives.

"If we are not careful we won't have the sport stars who make the difference any more because there are no role models inspiring the kids.

"It is important that we are not untouchable and that we can talk to them."

Campbell believes the reason athletics has seen people drift away is not down to a dislike of the sport, but because of a lack of facilities.

"I think facilities are the key problem in athletics. It is not that the kids don't want to do it, but if there are no tracks to do it on there is only so long you can keep them motivated doing it on a grass track," he said.

"If they don't see Darren Campbell running on a grass track, why should they.

"You have got to be able to keep it interesting and I guess in a way that is where the sports people have to take responsibility and come and talk to them, help them to realise that maybe they are talented and that they shouldn't give up.

"I can't say that it is because we aren't being successful, because we are being very successful, and athletics is one of the most successful sports out there."

The fear for Campbell is if children turn their back on exercise, sport will suffer, especially in the next generation of stars for the 2012 Olympics.

"I can't run forever, Paula Radcliffe can't run forever, so it is important that we come here and inspire them and keep them motivated and realise that sport is fun," he added.

Updated: 11:03 Tuesday, June 03, 2003