A wealth firm’s MD has begun a quest to complete one Olympic sport every day for ten days to coincide with the start of the 2016 Games in Rio.

Carnegie Smyth, managing director of Signia Wealth, is also cycling 1,000km in this period, before finishing at the London Olympic stadium.

He has taken on the epic challenge to raise awareness for the charity Sported, which tries to turnaround and transform young lives through sport.

Dubbed the ’10:10:1000 Challenge’, Mr Smyth began in Belfast on Monday, with Scotland, Wales, Worcester and Liverpool on the route.

He will join young people in an array of sporting activities, including boxing, archery, sailing, hockey and basketball each day.

Mr Smyth, a trustee of the charity, said: “I passionately believe sport is one of the most effective tools we have to motivate and inspire young people today. The individuals that run these groups across the country are offered free business and financial support by Sported so that they can become bigger, more sustainable and more effective.

“The charity’s network of volunteer business mentors works with its members on a one-to-one basis, providing expert consultancy on business issues ranging from financial planning and fundraising to marketing and governance.

Money raised will go to Sported, the charity of Sir Keith Mills, the Air Miles International Group BV founder and former Deputy Chairman of LOCOG.

Sir Keith said: “Sported’s members pride themselves on the same values of the Olympics and Paralympics - friendship, respect, excellence, determination, inspiration, courage and equality. So it’s fitting that in the month when these qualities come to the fore, Carnegie takes on this extremely tough challenge for such a worthy cause.”