• Just under 4,000 young people from across the capital took part in London Youth Games’ Finals Festival across the weekend of July 1-2
• Young Londoners from Wandsworth, in addition to 32 London boroughs participated in events throughout the year to get to the finals
• Families flocked to see the competitors in 11 different sports in the same venues as London 2012 – the first multi-sport, multi-venue youth event since the Games
• LLDC hosted both the London Youth Games and the Great Get Together on 1^st July

Wandsworth’s young sports participants triumphed, as they claimed the Inner London Trophy at the London Youth Games. The Inner London trophy is awarded to the inner London borough with the highest overall score. Wandsworth’s teams came 1^st in Archery and came 2^nd in Girls Volleyball, Cross Country (female and male), ParaGames Swimming (Male) and Indoor Rowing.

The 2023 London Youth Games Finals Festival and the Great Get Together saw a diverse and inclusive reflection of young people and communities of the 33 Boroughs of London enjoy an amazing weekend of sport, culture and art in an atmosphere and spirit not seen since the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Thousands of young Londoners followed in the footsteps of Great Britain’s most iconic sporting names by competing in the London Youth Games’ Finals Festival at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford.

Over the weekend of July 1-2, just under 4,000 participants competed in the London Youth Games finals of athletics, tennis, BMX, swimming, road cycling, basketball, volleyball, netball, hockey, aquathlon, table tennis and at our festival in the London Aquatics Centre, Lee Valley VeloPark, London Marathon Community Track, Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre and the Copper Box Arena – just like the heroes of the 2012 Olympics. This year’s participants were inspired by competing at the very same venues, building on the Olympic legacy of the past 11 years.

LYG Chair Prof. Geoff Thompson MBE FRSA DL QP JM said “The mental, physical and emotional health and well-being benefits were evident as the teams went through the final rounds, culminating in the Jubilee trophy, which is presented to the winning borough as a reflection of a year-round exposure of sport for development and peace. 2024 will see an Olympic and Paralympic year provide the Youth Games Finals Festival with a further opportunity for families, friends, coaches, officials, volunteers and organisations to work together and be part of something special in the lives of young people and communities.”

Lyn Garner, CEO, LLDC said: “We were thrilled to host so many participants and spectators at the London Youth Games Finals Festival over the weekend. It’s wonderful to think that eleven years on from London 2012, the iconic venues at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park continue to inspire the next sporting generation.”

With the Finals Festival being the culmination of over fifty qualifying events in more than thirty sports for young people delivered across London from November, the weekend saw over 10,000 participants and spectators flock to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

The conclusion of the season enabled the London Youth Games to announce the winners of the Jubilee Trophy which for the second season running is the London Borough of Haringey. Also, doing the double was the London Borough of Hackney who retained the ParaGames trophy for a second year.

LYG CEO Andy Dalby-Welsh said “It was a fantastic end to the season being in such prestigious London 2012 legacy venues. Huge congratulations to the London borough of Haringey on retaining the Jubilee trophy and a massive well done to the London Borough of Hackney who have provided such great opportunities for their Para athletes and retained the ParaGames trophy for a second year.”

The young people participating in the weekend were cheered on by some of Great Britain’s sporting heroes including Christine Ohuruogu, England and Great Britain hockey star Tess Howard, Paralympic Commonwealth gold winner Emmanuel Coker, London Lions basketball players Shanice Beckford-Norton, Savannah Wilkinson and Bradley Kaboza, Britain’s most successful male Taekwondo athlete Lutalo Muhammad, former Olympic sprinter and bobsledder Marcus Adam and IBF European Cruiserweight Champion Jordan Thompson.

Former London Youth Games participant and Olympic gold medallist Christine Ohuruogu was at the event and said: “The talent at London Youth Games is pretty impressive – I really enjoyed watching the relays. It was great seeing athletes come up with multiple medals around their necks – that tells you these guys are on a really good start!”

Working alongside partners Nike, Sport England, London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, Greater London Authority (GLA) and Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL), the London Youth Games Foundation is focused on improving the accessibility of sport to young people of all backgrounds, channelling the Olympic spirit to transform opportunities for children across the city.

Shaun Dawson, Chief Executive of Lee Valley Regional Park Authority said: “We’re delighted to be supporting the London Youth Games again. Lee Valley VeloPark and Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre were built for legacy so it’s fantastic to see young athletes from across London enjoying these inspiring venues. We look forward to continuing to work with the London Youth Games to provide life-changing opportunities for young athletes and keep the legacy of London 2012 alive.”

In line with London Youth Games’ core belief of sport being a key driver of social integration, spectators and participants could also enjoy the London Youth Games Foundation Festival outside the Copper Box Arena. Visitors immersed themselves in history and arts aboard a specially-designed London Youth Games bus, while visitors also enjoyed dance performances from Rambert Grades, immersive workshops for adults and young people, talks from famous athletes and could try a diverse range of sports activations from National Governing Body and community sport partners.

Tony Wallace, Regional Director at GLL, said: “Congratulations to everyone involved in the London Youth Games, everyone taking part played a huge role in its success. It was a tremendous privilege for our venues to be integral to this remarkable occasion, where aspirations were pursued, bonds were forged, and champions emerged. It was amazing to see so many Boroughs coming together to compete and showcase the future of sport. “

July 8, 2023 12:00 pm

Published by Emmaline Gordon