| London Youth Games | |
|---|---|
Official logo |
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| Founded | |
| 1977 | |
| Sports | |
| 30 | |
| Events | |
| 60 | |
| Competitors | |
| 50,000+ |
The London Youth Games is an annual multi-sport event held in London, England. The London Youth Games offer competitive opportunities for young participants aged 7 to 18 across 30 sports[1][2]. The London Youth Games are contested between the 32 London boroughs (as well as the City of London) and take place at venues around the capital all year round, with the focal point being a finals weekend at the National Sports Centre in Crystal Palace. The finals weekend traditionally takes place on the first weekend in July and they are free and open to all young people living in or going to school in London[3]. Over 50,000 young Londoners take part in the London Youth Games, making it the largest annual youth sports event in Europe[1][2][4][5].
The London Youth Games are delivered by the London borough councils, several NGBs and over 2,000 volunteers each year[6]. A small team of full-time staff help to co-ordinate the LYG volunteering programme ' GamesForce ' which, together with volunteering agencies, help recruit, train and provide opportunities in media, events, sports, officiating and team leadership for persons aged 16 and above at the London Youth Games[7][8][9].
The London Youth Games is funded by Balfour Beatty, Sport England National Lottery, London Councils and Thames Water among others[10]. The London Youth Games are organised and managed by the London Youth Games Foundation, which is a registered charity (1048705)[11][12]. Representatives from the London boroughs and a number of independent trustees make up the Board of trustees[6][13].
London Youth Games announced in March 2011 that they are working in partnership to deliver the Central London School Games on 1st July 2011[14].
Contents |
The London Youth Games is launched as one of two major sporting events to mark the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. The first Games were held that same year at the National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace, where it has remained since[15].
London Youth Games Ltd is created in 1985 to cater for the growth and complexity of the organisation dedicated to running the London Youth Games and other London sports events for young people.
The 1986 London Youth Games sees the introduction of a water sports regatta at the Royal Albert and Victoria Docks. To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the 1987 London Youth Games features in cycling's Milk Race and the cross-country championships are introduced to the Games programme[15].
In 1994, BAA Heathrow becomes first title sponsor of the London Youth Games which are renamed ' The London Heathrow Youth Games '. The Mini Games event for Londoners under the age of 11 is introduced. The Indoor Cricket Cup is set up in 1996. A then record 20,000 children take part in the 1998 London Youth Games.
The regatta is revamped in 1999 with the introduction of separate competitions in canoeing, sailing and rowing. Events for disabled athletes, swimming, football and girls rugby union are introduced.
A four-day national Youth Games final of the winning teams from all 43 Area Youth Games in the UK takes place in Southampton in August 2000. London sends two squads to represent them at 'The BAA Millennium Youth Games' in the 12 sports competitions[15].
The London Youth Games reach their 25th anniversary in 2001 with GB Olympic diver Tony Ally among its promoters.
The Queen, accompanied by her husband Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, visit the London Youth Games Mini Games at Crystal Palace on 4 July as part of her Golden Jubilee Tour in 2002. She watches a relay race and presents winners medals.
London Youth Games establishes its own website. A festival stage with a big screen, 95.8 Capital FM and the Royal Navy entertain crowds at the 2003 London Youth Games finals weekend.
The 2004 London Youth Games are launched by former boxing champion Michael Watson and showcase the London 2012 bid during the launch and at the finals weekend. London Youth Games competitor Amber Charles (Newham, girls basketball), then 14, is chosen as a youth ambassador for the bid. Participants greet the Athens Olympic Flame as it arrives in the UK on its world tour.
BAA Heathrow's sponsorship of the Games ends in 2005 and a new public sector funding secures the London Youth Games' future with long-term funding from Sport England London and the Greater London Authority[15].
Balfour Beatty announces a six-year association with the London Youth Games in 2006. They sign as a title sponsor until 2013 and the London Youth Games are renamed ' The Balfour Beatty London Youth Games '.
British long-distance runner Mo Farah lights the games torch at the opening ceremoney of the 2007 London Youth Games.
The London Youth Games celebrate the 500,000th competitor in its history in 2009. The London Youth Games also gets its first patron with former competitor, Chicago Bulls and GB basketball captain Luol Deng and the London Youth Games Hall of Fame is launched with six former participants inducted[16].
In 2010, the London Youth Games hits a record 50,000 competitors and becomes the largest annual youth sports event in Europe. Olympic 400m runner Christine Ohuruogu is the 2010 London Youth Games patron. Six more alumni are inducted into the Hall of Fame[15][17]. Foxy is introduced as the official London Youth Games mascot.
England women's footballer Rachel Yankey is the 2011 London Youth Games patron[18].
The London Youth Games consists of 60 competitions in 30 different sports[1][19]. The following sports are included in the London Youth Games programme:
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Karate, Skiing, Showjumping
The Jubilee Trophy is presented to the borough with the best overall performance at the London Youth Games[20].
In each competition, every position carries a points total. At the culmination of finals weekend, each borough's best 28 points totals are added together to give their final score. Penalties of up to 50 points can occur if a borough team does not attend or is disqualified from a competition they have entered. The borough with the highest overall score wins[21][22].
| Year | Borough | Year | Borough | Year | Borough | Year | Borough | Year | Borough | Year | Borough | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Havering | 1983 | Havering | 1989 | Enfield | 1995 | Havering | 2001 | Havering | 2007 | Bromley | |
| 1978 | No Games | 1984 | Havering | 1990 | Redbridge | 1996 | Redbridge | 2002 | Havering | 2008 | Bromley | |
| 1979 | Havering | 1985 | Croydon | 1991 | Bromley | 1997 | Havering | 2003 | Bexley | 2009 | Havering | |
| 1980 | Havering | 1986 | Bromley | 1992 | Redbridge | 1998 | Havering | 2004 | Havering | 2010 | Bromley | |
| 1981 | Havering | 1987 | Waltham Forest | 1993 | Redbridge | 1999 | Havering | 2005 | Redbridge | 2011 | Richmond | |
| 1982 | Waltham Forest | 1988 | Bromley | 1994 | Croydon | 2000 | Havering | 2006 | Havering |
Disability Trophy
| Year | Borough | Year | Borough | Year | Borough | Year | Borough | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Southwark | 2009 | Wandsworth | 2010 | Croydon | 2011 | Lewisham |
Thames Water Regatta Trophy
| Year | Borough | Year | Borough | Year | Borough | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Richmond | 2010 | Richmond | 2011 | Richmond |
Most Improved Borough Trophy
| Year | Borough | Year | Borough | Year | Borough | Year | Borough | Year | Borough | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Greenwich | 2005 | Barnet | 2009 | Richmond | 2010 | Southwark | 2011 | Lewisham |
Inner London Borough Trophy
| Year | Borough | Year | Borough | Year | Borough | Year | Borough | Year | Borough | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Southwark | 2007 | Wandsworth | 2009 | Wandsworth | 2010 | Wandsworth | 2011 | Wandsworth |
Rick Grice Fair Play Trophy
| Year | Borough | Year | Borough | Year | Borough | Year | Borough | Year | Borough | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Bexley | 2006 | Merton | 2009 | Westminster | 2010 | Barking and Dagenham | 2011 |
The London Youth Games has been a stepping stone in the careers of many of Great Britain's finest Olympic and Paralympic athletes[5][20][23][24][25]. Below is a list of athletes from each sport who are former participants at the London Youth Games[26][27].
Athletics
Jackie Agyepong[28], Steve Backley, Linford Christie, Tasha Danvers, Tyrone Edgar[29], Mo Farah, Jo Fenn[30], Dalton Grant[31], Rikki Fifton, John Herbert, Jade Johnson, Jeanette Kwakye, Joice Maduaka, Christine Ohuruogu, Tosin Oke, Samson Oni, John Regis, David Weir
Badminton
Aamir Ghaffar[32], Rajiv Ouseph
Basketball
Arek Deng[33], Ajou Deng, Luol Deng, Rosalee Mason[34], Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Azania Stewart
Cricket
Cycling
Diving
Fencing
Richard Kruse
Football
Chris Bart-Williams, Siobhan Chamberlain, Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Dickson Etuhu, Gavin Hoyte, Justin Hoyte, Ledley King, Lianne Sanderson[28], Danny Shittu, Rachel Yankey
Gymnastics
Chris Bower
Hockey
Judo
Victoria Dunn, Winston Gordon[38], Michelle Holt, Ashley McKenzie
Kayak / Canoe
Lizzie Broughton[39], Lucy Ormorod
Karate
Rachel Newey
Netball
Kadeem Corbin, Amanda Newton
Rugby
Maggie Alphonsi, Helen Clayton, Louise Horgan[40], Katy Storie
Rowing
Tom Aggar, Ryan Chamberlain[41], Naomi Riches[42], Mark Hunter
Skiing
Chemmy Alcott[43], Aaron Tipping
Squash
Paul Johnson, Dominque Lloyd Walters, Alison Waters[44]
Swimming
Elaine Barrett, Ellen Gandy[45], Dervis Konuralp, Zara Long, Craig Moate
Table Tennis
Darius Knight
Tennis
Triathlon
Volleyball
Dami Bakare[48], Peter Bakare[49], Lucy Boulton, Natasha Brewer, Lizzie Reid, Darius Setsoafia, Nikki Strachan
Weightlifting
Joanne Calvino, Darren Holloway, Zoe Smith[50]
Other
Brendano Lee (international male super model and actor)[51], Warren Russell (member of boy dance band Diversity)
The London Youth Games Hall of Fame was established in 2009. It is made up of former competitors who have progressed from the London Youth Games to the world stage.
Former 100m champion Linford Christie (Hammersmith and Fulham), 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu (Newham), javelin thrower Steve Backley (Bexley), Chicago Bulls and GB basketball captain Luol Deng (Croydon), rower Mark Hunter (Havering) and Paralympic swimmer Dervis Konuralp (Greenwich) were the first Hall of Fame inductees in 2009[16][24].
They were followed in 2010 by 400m hurdler Tasha Danvers (Lambeth and Croydon), long-distance runner Mo Farah (Hounslow), England footballer Rio Ferdinand (Southwark), netball player Amanda Newton (Newham), Paralympic athlete David Weir (Sutton) and cyclist Bradley Wiggins (Camden)[5][17][25].
Between them, the current 12 members have amassed 23 Olympic or Paralympic medals, 35 World Championship medals and over 500 international appearances for their country[52].
The annual Hall of Fame and Awards Evening not only sees former London Youth Games competitors inducted into the Hall of Fame, it recognises and presents special awards to individuals and organisations who make a major contribution to the success of the London Youth Games[16][17][25][53].
The 2011 Hall of Fame and Awards evening will take place on Tuesday 11 September at Lords Cricket Ground[54].
Below is a list of previous winners[53]:
The Jubilee Cup
2010 GamesForce Team Leaders 2011
Community Partner of the Year
2010 England Basketball 2011
Coach of the Year
2010 Keir Apperly (Hackney, cycling) 2011
GamesForce Volunteer of the Year
2010 Jack Montoya 2011
Volunteer of the Year
2010 Lindsay Sartori 2011
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