"The London Youth Games is helping sport to change the lives of
tens of thousands of young Londoners, and we at Sport England are
proud to support it. Like so much of what's good in community
sport, the games' success is down to strong teamwork between local
councils, sports governing bodies and many other partners."
Richard Lewis, Sport England Chair
The Big Kick Off for the 2011 Balfour Beatty London Youth
Games season is underway with each London borough cranking up their
recruitment drive for their teams for the event, which is supported
by Sport England National Lottery investment.
2011 patron Rachel Yankey of Arsenal and England ladies is
delivering coaching sessions at schools in Lewisham, Bromley and
Hackney as part of the week. The 100-times capped footballer is a
former London Youth Games competitor, having played for Brent in
her younger years. She is a regular member of the England team
which has qualified for the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Elsewhere an Olympic athlete is due to visit schools in
Waltham Forest where sporting participation is traditionally low.
In Barnet, there will be a special recruitment day for volunteers
that will mark the 10,000th hour delivered by a young volunteer
since the launch of the London Youth Games young volunteer scheme
GamesForce in 2009.
The London Youth Games enjoyed its most successful year in
2010 with over 50,000 participants from 33 London borough teams
taking part in 60 competitions across 30 sports.
Bromley were the overall winners, claiming the Jubilee
Trophy at finals week at the National Sports Centre in Crystal
Palace in July. But 22 of 33 London borough teams were champions in
at least one sport, reflecting the incredible diversity of the
Games.
Sport England's Chair, Richard Lewis, said: "The London
Youth Games is helping sport to change the lives of tens of
thousands of young Londoners, and we at Sport England are proud to
support it. Like so much of what's good in community sport, the
games' success is down to strong teamwork between local councils,
sports governing bodies and many other partners."
Rachel Yankey said: "The Balfour Beatty London Youth Games
is one of the most exciting events any young Londoner could wish to
experience.
"There are over 30 sports to choose from for
7-18-year-olds wanting to try out for their London borough team.
For schoolchildren to represent their borough at the London Youth
Games is a great achievement and to actually win a medal at the
London Youth Games is pretty special.
"Young people need a goal and something to focus on – the
London Youth Games provides that. It is something to train towards,
something to take part in and something really significant to win.
To be champions of London really means something. I would urge
anyone with even a slight interest in sport to give it a go, it is
very competitive, but loads of fun too."