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The Olympics needs to do more to inspire physical activity around the world, says new research.

A series of studies published by medical journal The Lancet show that attempts to improve physical activity has struggled to improve rates since 2012.

The opening ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics is on Friday, and researchers claim that more can be done to promote exercise during big sporting events.

Professor Adrian Bauman, of the University of Sydney, said: "The Olympics and other mass sporting events are a missed opportunity to change health and physical activity at the population level not only in the host city or country but around the world."

The study shows that 80% of school-going children are failing to meet the World Health Organization's guidelines of taking on 60 minutes of physical exercise a day - and no progress has been made on that figure since 2012.

Not including the time kids are sitting down doing school or homework, 25% spend more than three hours a day sitting, and 40% of never walk to school.

Researchers agree that coronavirus restrictions over the last 18 months have made it more difficult for children to exercise.

Dr Esther van Sluijs, of the University of Cambridge, said: "Virtual schooling and social distancing have drastically reduced physical activity and increased use of screens, and the consequences of these changes could last a lifetime."

Exercise was listed as essential by governments worldwide, throughout lockdowns, and the researchers on the study say that the same level of commitment should be made for physical exercise by governments after the coronavirus pandemic ends.

Do you feel inspired by the Olympics to be more active? Let us know in the comments!