The Yukon government has awarded $420,000 in Yukon Sport for Life funding, Minister of Community Services Glenn Hart announced.

The funding includes $314,900 for 21 Yukon sport governing bodies, $50,000 to the Elite Athlete program, and $55,100 towards coaches' salaries and qualified athletes' travel within Yukon.

"Yukon Sport for Life is based on the premise that physical activity is a lifelong endeavour that contributes to our overall quality of life," said Hart in a press release.

"From childhood to our senior years, regular exercise contributes positively to one's physical ability and well-being, and good health allows us to enjoy more of all that life has to offer."

The Yukon Sport for Life initiative enhances athlete and coaching development in the Yukon from grassroots to elite levels and aims to boost rural, aboriginal and female participation in physical activity and competitive sports.

The overarching goal is to promote a better quality of life for all Yukoners through increased participation in sport and physical activity. A key objective is to encourage increased physical activity for youth and promote healthy lifestyle choices.

The Yukon Sport for Life program was launched in June 2007.

Funding for the 2007/08 Yukon Sport For Life Yukon Sport Governing Bodies were the following:

Swimming was awarded with the most funds at a total of $39,000, while cross country skiing was given $37,700.

A total of $35,000 was given for basketball funding, while the sport of figure skating was awarded $23,500.

Funding for soccer was $22,500, while funding for hockey was $20,000.

The next highest total was freestyle skiing, which was awarded with $15,500 and golf wasn't far off at $15,000.

A total of $14,000 was designated to speed skating, while the sports of gymnastics and shooting were both given $11,000.

The remaining sports included alpine skiing, which was given $8,000, badminton $9,000, biathlon $6,000, curling $5,000, cycling $13,000, orienteering $3,000, squash $5,000,table Tennis $5,000, Tennis $2,700 and Volleyball $14,000.

The final total was for awarded funds was $ 314,900.