London Youth Games

London Youth Games
Official logo
Founded
1977
Sports
30
Events
80
Competitors
104,000+
Reigning champions
Croydon

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 70,000 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]

History

1977-1984

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.^[14]

After a year away, the Games returned in 1979 and continued to grow through the early 1980s with the introduction of more sports and a rise in the number of competitors.

1985-1989

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.^[14]

1990-2000

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.^[14]

2001-2005

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 secured the London Youth Games' future with long-term funding from Sport England London and the Greater London Authority.^[14]

2006-2010

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 light the games torch at the opening ceremony 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.^[15]

In 2010, the London Youth Games hit a record 50,000 competitors and became the largest annual youth sports event in Europe. Olympic 400m runner Christine Ohuruogu was the 2010 London Youth Games patron. Six more alumni were inducted into the Hall of Fame.^[14][16] Foxy was introduced as the official London Youth Games mascot.

2011-present

2011 was another record year for the London Youth Games, as over 71,000 youngsters compete across 30 sports, with Richmond taking home the Jubilee Trophy. England women's footballer Rachel Yankey was the patron of that year's Games, and was also inducted into the 2011 Hall of Fame along with skiier Chemmy Alcott, Paralympic swimmer Elaine Barrett, triathlete Tim Don, high jumper Dalton Grant, and squash player Paul Johnson.^[17]

2012 saw the London Youth Games introduce a whole new raft of school competitions in line with the national School Games pathway and hosted the inaugural finals at Crystal Palace in March. Hounslow were the victors and took home the Schools Shield. Games alumni Zoe Smith and David Weir were joint patrons for a record-breaking year at the London Youth Games. In Olympic and Paralympic year, Croydon were crowned winners of the Jubilee Trophy for the first time in 18 years. It was announced later in the year that participation figures for the 2012 Balfour Beatty London Youth Games were 104,463 - a record in the history of the event.

The London Youth Games was well represented at both the 2012 Olympics and 2012 Paralympics with 44 competitors in total. LYG alumni contributed 14 medals to Team GB including gold medals for Mo Farah, David Weir, Bradley Wiggins, Joanna Rowsell and Naomi Riches.

Olympic Judo star and former Greenwich competitor Gemma Gibbons is Patron for the 2013 Games. Wandsworth won the Balfour Beatty London Youth Games School Games and are now the holders of the Schools Shield. The Games Finals will take place on July 6 and 7 at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre.

Sports

The London Youth Games consists of 80 competitions in 30 different sports.^[1][18] The following sports are included in the London Youth Games programme:

Angling Archery () Athletics () Badminton () Basketball () Canoeing Sprint Slalom Cycling Diving ()

Fencing () Hockey Football () Gymnastics Artistic Gymnastics Trampoline Handball () Judo () Netball () Rowing ()

Rugby union () Sailing () Squash () Swimming () Table tennis () Tennis () Triathlon () Volleyball () Weightlifting ()

Previous Sports

Karate, Skiing, Showjumping, Darts

The Jubilee Trophy

The Jubilee Trophy is presented to the borough with the best overall performance at the London Youth Games.^[19]

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.^[20][21]

Previous Winners

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	2012	Croydon

Other Awards

Schools Shield

Year	Borough	Year	Borough
2012	Hounslow	2013	Wandsworth

Disability Trophy

Year	Borough	Year	Borough	Year	Borough	Year	Borough	Year	Borough	Year	Borough
2004	Southwark	2005	Lewisham	2006	Lewisham	2007	Lewisham	2008	Lewisham	2009	Wandsworth
2010	Croydon	2011	Lewisham	2012	Croydon

Thames Water Regatta Trophy

Year	Borough	Year	Borough	Year	Borough	Year	Borough
2009	Richmond	2010	Richmond	2011	Richmond	2012	Kensington & Chelsea

Most Improved Borough Trophy

Year	Borough	Year	Borough	Year	Borough	Year	Borough	Year	Borough	Year	Borough
2004	Greenwich	2005	Barnet	2006	Hounslow	2007	Tower Hamlets	2008	Kensington & Chelsea	2009	Richmond
2010	Southwark	2011	Lewisham	2012	Sutton

Inner London Borough Trophy

Year	Borough	Year	Borough	Year	Borough	Year	Borough	Year	Borough	Year	Borough
1987	Southwark	1988	Southwark	1989	Islington	1990	Islington	1991	Islington	1992	Wandsworth
1993	Wandsworth	1994	Wandsworth	1995	Wandsworth	1996	Lewisham	1997	Greenwich	1998	Greenwich
1999	Southwark	2000	Greenwich	2001	Southwark	2002	Wandsworth	2003	Southwark	2004	Southwark
2005	Southwark	2006	Lewisham	2007	Wandsworth	2008	Lewisham	2009	Wandsworth	2010	Wandsworth
2011	Wandsworth	2012	Wandsworth

Rick Grice Fair Play Trophy

Year	Borough	Year	Borough	Year	Borough	Year	Borough
2004	Bexley	2006	Merton	2009	Westminster	2010	Barking and Dagenham

Alumni

The London Youth Games has been a stepping stone in the careers of many of Great Britain's finest Olympic and Paralympic athletes.^{[5][19][22][23][24]} Below is a list of athletes from each sport who are former participants at the London Youth Games.^[25][26]

Athletics

Jackie Agyepong,^[27] Dina Asher-Smith, Steve Backley, Julia Bleasdale, Abdul Buhari, Linford Christie, Tasha Danvers, Monique Davis, Tyrone Edgar,^[28] Mo Farah, Jo Fenn,^[29] Rikki Fifton, Dalton Grant,^[30] Rikki Fifton, John Herbert, JJ Jegede, Jade Johnson, Jeanette Kwakye, Joice Maduaka, Christine Ohuruogu, Tosin Oke, Samson Oni, Scott Overall, Abi Oyepitan, Asha Philip, John Regis, Laura Turner, David Weir, Benedict Whitby, Conrad Williams, Nadia Williams

Badminton

Aamir Ghaffar,^[31] Rajiv Ouseph

Basketball

Ogo Adegboye, Matthew Bryan-Amaning, Arek Deng,^[32] Ajou Deng, Luol Deng, Temi Fagbenle, Rosalee Mason,^[33] Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Azania Stewart, Andrew Sullivan

Cricket

Rory Hamilton-Brown,^[34] Susie Rowe

Cycling

Erick Rowsell, Jo Rowsell, Bradley Wiggins

Diving

Tony Ally, Blake Aldridge,^[35] Peter Waterfield

Fencing

James-Andrew Davis, Richard Kruse, Soji Aiyenuro, Curtis Miller

Football

Chris Bart-Williams, Siobhan Chamberlain, Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Dickson Etuhu, Gavin Hoyte, Justin Hoyte, Ledley King, Eartha Pond, Claire Rafferty, Lianne Sanderson,^[27] Alex Scott, Danny Shittu, Raheem Sterling, Casey Stoney, Fara Williams, Rachel Yankey

Gymnastics

Chris Bower

Hockey

Darren Cheesman,^[36] Dan Shingles

Judo

Victoria Dunn, Gemma Gibbons, Karina Bryant, Winston Gordon,^[37] Michelle Holt, Ashley McKenzie

Kayak / Canoe

Leanne Brown, Lizzie Broughton,^[38] Richard Hounslow, Lucy Ormorod

Karate

Rachel Newey

Netball

Kadeem Corbin, Sasha Corbin, Amanda Newton

Rugby

Maggie Alphonsi, Helen Clayton, Louise Horgan,^[39] Katy Storie, Topsy Ojo

Rowing

Tom Aggar, Ryan Chamberlain,^[40] Mark Hunter, Naomi Riches^[41]

Skiing

Chemmy Alcott,^[42] Aaron Tipping

Squash

Paul Johnson, Dominique Lloyd-Walter, Alison Waters^[43]

Swimming

Elaine Barrett, Ellen Gandy,^[44] Dervis Konuralp, Zara Long, Amy Marren, Craig Moate

Table Tennis

Darius Knight

Tennis

Anne Keothavong^[45]

Triathlon

Tim Don, Stuart Hayes,^[46] Jodie Swallow

Volleyball

Dami Bakare,^[47] Peter Bakare,^[48] Lucy Boulton, Natasha Brewer, Lizzie Reid, Darius Setsoafia, Yasser Slitti, Nikki Strachan

Weightlifting

Joanne Calvino, Darren Holloway, Jack Oliver, Zoe Smith^[49]

Other

Brendano Lee (international male super model and actor),^[50] Warren Russell (member of boy dance band Diversity)

Hall of Fame

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.^[15][23]

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][16][24]

The third group of inductees in 2011 were skiier Chemmy Alcott (Richmond), Paralympic swimmer Elaine Barrett (Hackney), triathlete Tim Don (Hounslow), high jumper Dalton Grant (Hackney), squash player Paul Johnson (Greenwich), and footballer Rachel Yankey (Brent).

In 2012 the inductees were cyclist Joanna Rowsell (Sutton), Paralympic rower Naomi Riches (Harrow), judo star and 2013 Patron Gemma Gibbons (Greenwich), canoeist Richard Hounslow (Harrow), England rugby star Maggie Alphonsi (Enfield) and world champion track star John Regis (Lewisham).

Between them, the current 24 members have amassed 35 Olympic or Paralympic medals, 77 World Championship medals and over 1000 international appearances for their country.^[51]

Hall of Fame and Awards Evening

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.^{[15][16][24][52]}

The 2012 Hall of Fame and Awards evening took place on Tuesday 9 October at Lords Cricket Ground.^[53]

Below is a list of previous award winners at the evening:^[52]

The Jubilee Cup

Year	Winner	Year	Winner
2010	GamesForce Team Leaders	2011	Eddie Land (Bexley)	2012	Jackie Valin (Wandsworth)

Community Partner of the Year

Year	Winner	Year	Winner
2010	England Basketball	2011	Tennis Foundation	2012	British Cycling & Access Sport

Coach of the Year

Year	Winner	Year	Winner
2010	Keir Apperly (Hackney cycling)	2011	Richard Sheridan (Lambeth sailing)	2012	Mark Betts (Brent)

GamesForce Volunteer of the Year (Age 16-25)

Year	Winner	Year	Winner
2010	Jack Montoya (Hammersmith & Fulham)	2011	Helen Tang (Tower Hamlets)	2012	Roseanne Blaze (Greenwich)

Volunteer of the Year (Age 25+)

Year	Winner	Year	Winner
2010	Lindsay Sartori (Bexley)	2011	George Brown (Newham)	2012	Craigie-Lee Paterson (Tower Hamlets)

Rick Grice Spirit of the Games Award

Year	Winner
2011	Waltham Forest rowing	2012	CJ White & Sophie Hammond (Redbridge)

References

External links

• Official website
• Facebook page
• Twitter page
• YouTube channel

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