London Youth Games kick starts £5 million mission to secure the future of the games as it counts down to 50th year
LYG determined to continue its legacy as young Londoners compete at Olympic Park for Finals Festival
Over 3,000 young athletes from across the capital are set to compete and participate at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in the London Youth Games (LYG) Finals Festival (4-6 July) – the largest annual youth sports event in Europe.
As LYG races towards its 50th anniversary in 2027, the foundation is on a mission to raise £5 million to secure the future of the games and the opportunity for 10,000 young Londoners to participate in competitive sports events each year.
Prof. Geoff Thompson MBE, former five times world karate champion, leading sports administrator, youth activist and chair of LYG, welcomes the government’s new approach to PE and school sport, which aims to ensure equal access to high-quality sport, but warns that sustained financial pressure on local government and sports funders has already put opportunities for many young Londoners at risk.
Prof. Geoff Thompson MBE, comments: “As our 50th anniversary approaches, we want to celebrate our late monarch and the legacy of sporting participation of young Londoners. The LYG50 campaign is about every young Londoner achieving their ambitions and life potential. With this campaign, we will continue to engage all Londoners, working with the 32 Boroughs of London, the City of London and our supporters to help us meet the challenges that young people face in our communities today. The countdown to 2027 will see a diverse, inclusive celebration and legacy opportunity for all.”
LYG is calling for people across the capital to share their own London Youth Games stories and successes to demonstrate the power and potential of the games, on and off the sports field.
Olympic, world and commonwealth champion and LYG ambassador, Christine Ohuruogu MBE, shares her story of having competed for Newham in the London Youth Games, in netball and athletics as a teenager:
“The London Youth Games is one of a kind and nothing comes closer than the London Youth Games to connecting young people and sport in the capital. The games have impacted the lives of millions of young people over decades. There is much to celebrate and it goes far beyond the sporting achievements; the games foster a spirit of inclusivity, community teamwork and excellence. I am forever grateful that I had the opportunity to take part,” explains Christine Ohuruogu MBE.
According to the Local Government Association (LGA), two thirds of councils have not increased spending on youth services in the past five years and research from Sport England’s latest Active Lives Children and Young People Survey shows clear inequalities when it comes to participation in sport and physical activity – with marked differences between young people from different economic and ethnic background as well as between boys and girls. Happiness levels among young people have also dipped in recent years.
The London Youth Games were founded in 1977 in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee. The late Queen and Prince Philip attended the games in 2002 as part of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee tour, demonstrating the event’s significance.
Over two million young Londoners aged 7 to 17 have taken part and competed across 37 sports – among them many well-known athletes and para-athletes including Olympians Sir Mo Farah, and Christine Ohuruogu MBE, Paralympian David Weir CBE and England footballers Chloe Kelly and Raheem Sterling MBE.
Show your support for the future of the London Youth Games and opportunities for every young Londoner londonyouthgames.org/LYG50
