London Youth Games Finals Festival gets underway with School Games festival

The London Youth Games Finals Festival launched today at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, welcoming hundreds of pupils from across London.

The day was focused on the School Games, where the London Youth Games is committed to making sure crucial sporting opportunities reach those who need them most. We offer both festivals and competitions, working to give opportunities to those young people facing significant barriers to activity.

The LYG Adapted Inspire Festival welcomed students in a range of adapted and Para sports, including Boccia, Sensory Stations, Dance, Tennis, Football, Augmented Reality Sport (Hado), Wheelchair Basketball, Boxing and Adapted Cycling. Each 30-minute taster session was designed to give young people the chance to be active, build confidence and experience a safe and inclusive space to try activities.

Alongside this, the LYG Hockey Skills Festival helped students to develop their hockey skills and understanding of the sport in a supportive environment.

Plus, the LYG Primary Golf Festival had pupils in Years 3-4 take part in fun, skill-based golf activities, helping them to build confidence and enjoy taking part.

On the pitches, the LYG Rugby T1 Competition and Activation saw Year 5 and 6 pupils demonstrate rugby’s core values of Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Sportsmanship and Discipline while taking part in friendly matches using the Tag-T1 Rugby format.

Paul Keating, Team Manager, said: “The events amazing. It gives loads of children and opportunity to take part in sports that they would never even get a chance to go. All of our kids love coming to these events because a lot of the time they won’t get a chance to representing their school’s sports teams. So this, for them, it’s like their Olympics.”

Cllr Nicole Ereria, Barnet Councillor, said: “Sport is something that can bring young people together, regardless of age, religion and background, and I’m really passionate about seeing organisations like the London Youth Games help train the people of the future. We need more sport, and we need to invest in organisations like the London Youth Games to make sure our young people have a bright and healthy future.

C. E. Lord OBE, City of London added: “London Youth Games is incredibly important for the whole capital for young people across all 32 London boroughs and the city of London, which is why we are so proud to support the work of London Youth Games. It provides an opportunity for young people to come together and actually participate. Sport for young people is about their mental health and physical health, and that’s why we want to encourage as many kids as possible to take part in events like London Youth Games.”

The action continues over the weekend with 3 Open Games competitions taking place across two Olympic legacy venues and with thousands of young Londoners representing boroughs across London competing.

Saturday will feature a free, drop-in LYG Community Sports Festival alongside the Boys Hockey and Table Tennis competitions at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre, whilst the Road Cycling Competition takes over the Lee Valley VeloPark on the same day. Then, Sunday features Basketball Finals at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, whilst Girls Hockey teams compete to be crowned London champions at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre.