London Youth Games Explained

Established:1977
Participants:Est. 1.5m to date (2020)
Venue:Crystal Palace National Sports Centre and others
Sponsor:Nike

The London Youth Games is an annual multi-sport event held in London, England. The London Youth Games offer competitive opportunities for young people aged 7 to 18 (who live or go to school in London) across approximately 30 sports every year. The London Youth Games are contested between the 32 London boroughs (as well as the City of London) and take place at venues across the capital nine months of the year.

The focal point is finals weekend at the National Sports Centre in Crystal Palace, which traditionally takes place on the first weekend in July. But there are around 50 events that take place annually including qualifying rounds and stand alone finals at venues as prestigious as Lord's, Copper Box Arena and Hampstead Heath. The London Youth Games is free and open to all young people living in or going to school in London.

Notable past participants include four-times Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah, Premier League and England Footballer Raheem Sterling and World and European sprinting gold medallist Dina Asher-Smith.

The London Youth Games is funded mainly via commercial support from headline sponsor Nike, membership contributions from each of the London local authorities and Sport England National Lottery support. The London Youth Games are organised and managed by the London Youth Games Foundation, which is a registered charity (1048705)., representatives from the London boroughs and a number of independent trustees who make up the board of trustees.

The London Youth Games are delivered by a small team of full-time staff, Borough Team Organisers (BTO's) from London's local authorities, School Games Organisers (SGOs), representatives of Sporting National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and around 4,000 volunteers from the London Youth Games volunteering programme GamesForce.

History

2000–2009

A four-day national Youth Games final of the winning teams from all 43 Area Youth Games in the UK took place in Southampton in August 2000. London sent two squads to represent the city at 'The BAA Millennium Youth Games' in the 12 sports competitions.

2010–2019

The London Youth Games was well represented at London 2012 with 44 former participants competing in the 2012 Olympics and 2012 Paralympics.

2020-present

Sports

The London Youth Games has consisted of multiple sports since its inception. Below is a list of sports that have been included in the London Youth Games at any time since 1977. Those in italics were part of the inaugural London Youth Games in 1977 and those in bold are part of the London Youth Games as of 2020:

The Jubilee Trophy and Schools Shield

Every year since its launch in 1977, the Jubilee Trophy has been presented to the overall winning borough and, since 2012, to the winning borough in the Open Games programme. The School Games is scored separately and the overall winning borough in the schools competition is awarded the Schools Shield. Havering are the most successful borough in the history of the London Youth Games.

Previous Winners

YearJubilee trophyOther trophies (only shown where awarded)
1977Havering-|-|1978|Not contested|-|-|1979|Havering|-
1980Havering-|-|1981|Havering|-
1982Waltham Forest-|-|1983|Havering|-
1984Havering-|-|1985|Croydon|-|-|1986|Bromley|-|-|1987|Waltham Forest|Inner London borough trophy – Southwark|-|1988|Bromley|Inner London borough trophy – Southwark|-|1989|Enfield|Inner London borough trophy – Islington|-|1990|Redbridge|Inner London borough trophy – Islington|-|1991|Bromley|Inner London borough trophy – Islington|-|1992|Redbridge|Inner London borough trophy – Wandsworth|-|1993|Redbridge|Inner London borough trophy – Wandsworth|-|1994|Croydon|Inner London borough trophy – Wandsworth|-|1995|Havering|Inner London borough trophy – Wandsworth|-|1996|Redbridge|Inner London borough trophy – Lewisham|-|1997|Havering|Inner London borough trophy – Greenwich|-|1998|Havering|Inner London borough trophy – Greenwich|-|1999|Havering|Inner London borough trophy – Southwark|-|2000|Havering|Inner London borough trophy – Greenwich|-|2001|Havering|Inner London borough trophy – Southwark|-|2002|Havering|Inner London borough trophy – Wandsworth|-|2003|Bexley|Inner London borough trophy – Southwark|-|2004|Havering|Disability trophy – Southwark

Inner London borough trophy – Southwark

Most improved borough – Greenwich

Rick Grice Fair Play trophy – Bexley|-|2005|Redbridge|Disability trophy – Lewisham

Inner London borough trophy – Southwark

Most improved borough – Barnet|-|2006|Havering|Disability trophy – Lewisham

Inner London borough trophy – Lewisham

Most improved borough – Hounslow

Rick Grice Fair Play trophy – Merton|-|2007|Bromley|Disability trophy – Lewisham

Inner London borough trophy – Wandsworth

Most improved borough – Tower Hamlets|-|2008|Bromley|Disability trophy – Lewisham

Inner London borough trophy – Lewisham

Most improved borough – Kensington & Chelsea|-|2009|Havering|Disability trophy – Wandsworth

Inner London borough trophy – Wandsworth

Most improved borough – Richmond

Rick Grice Fair Play trophy – Westminster

Thames Water Regatta – Richmond|-|2010|Bromley|Disability trophy – Croydon

Inner London borough trophy – Wandsworth

Most improved borough – Southwark

Rick Grice Fair Play trophy – Barking & Dagenham

Thames Water Regatta – Richmond|-|2011|Richmond|Disability trophy – Lewisham

Most improved borough – Lewisham

Thames Water Regatta – Richmond|-|2012|Croydon|Disability trophy – Croydon

Inner London borough trophy – Wandsworth

Most improved borough – Sutton

Schools Shield – Hounslow

Thames Water Regatta – Kensington & Chelsea|-|2013|Wandsworth|Disability trophy – Croydon

Inner London borough trophy – Wandsworth

Most improved borough – Haringey

Schools Shield – Wandsworth

Thames Water Regatta – Richmond

|-|2014|Wandsworth|ParaGames trophy – Croydon

Inner London borough trophy – Wandsworth

Most improved borough –

Schools Shield – Haringey

Thames Water Regatta – Richmond

|-|2015|Wandsworth|ParaGames trophy –

Inner London borough trophy – Wandsworth

Most improved borough –

Schools Shield – Haringey

Thames Water Regatta – Richmond

|-|2016|Bromley|ParaGames trophy –

Inner London borough trophy –

Most improved borough –

Schools Shield –

Regatta – Richmond

|-|2017|Bromley|ParaGames trophy –

Inner London borough trophy –

Most improved borough –

Schools Shield –

Regatta – Richmond

|-|2018|Bromley|ParaGames trophy –

Inner London borough trophy –

Most improved borough –

Schools Shield –

Regatta – Richmond

|-|2019|Bromley|ParaGames trophy – Croydon

Inner London borough trophy – Wandsworth

Most improved borough – Waltham Forest

Schools Shield –

Regatta – Tower Hamlets

Respect the Games Trophy - Redbridge

|-|2020|Not contested|ParaGames trophy – Not contested

Inner London borough trophy – Not contested

Most improved borough – Not contested

Schools Shield – Not Contested

Regatta – Not contested

Virtual Games - London Borough of Camden|}

Jubilee Trophy wins by borough

WinsCountryYears
16Havering1977, 1979–81, 1983, 1984, 1995, 1997–2002, 2004, 2006, 2009
10Bromley1986, 1988, 1991, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2016-2019
5Redbridge1990, 1992, 1993, 1996, 2005
3Croydon1985, 1994, 2012
3Wandsworth2013-2015
2Waltham Forest1982, 1987
1Enfield1989
Bexley2003
Richmond2011

Event Winners

Athletics

Year Borough
2003 Bromley
2004 Bromley
2005 Bromley
2006 Bromley
2007 Lewisham
Year Male Female
2008Waltham ForestBarking and Dagenham
2009 Havering Bromley
2010 Enfield Bromley
2011 Enfield Bromley
2012 Southwark Bromley
2013 Tower Hamlets Bromley
2014 Southwark Bromley
2015 Wandsworth Havering

Angling

Year Borough
2003 Croydon
2004 Hillingdon
2005 Sutton
2006 Croydon
2007 Waltham Forest
2008 Croydon
2009 Enfield
2010 Enfield
2011 Croydon
2012 Enfield
2013 Croydon
2014 Croydon
2015 Greenwich

Archery

Year Borough
2003 Ealing
2004 Redbridge
2005 Redbridge
2006 Redbridge
2007 Redbridge
2008 Redbridge
2009 Kingston
2010 Redbridge
2011 Richmond
2012 Redbridge
2013 Redbridge
2014 Hillingdon
2015 Hammersmith & Fulham

Badminton

Year Borough
2003 Bromley
2004 Harrow
2005 Bromley
2006 Bromley
2007 Redbridge
2008 Haringey
2009 Redbridge
2010 Harrow
2011 Merton
2012 Redbridge
2013 Redbridge
2014 Redbridge
2015 Sutton

Basketball

Year Male Female
2003 Hackney Haringey
2004 Hackney Haringey
2005 Hackney Haringey
2006 Hackney Haringey
2007 Barnet Haringey
2008 Haringey Haringey
2009 Haringey Haringey
2010 Hounslow Haringey
2011 Lewisham Southwark
2012 Lambeth Southwark
2013 Haringey Southwark
2014 Barking & Dagenham Newham
2015 Harrow Southwark

Boccia

Year Borough
2005 Croydon
2006 Southwark
2007 Waltham Forest
2008 Wandsworth
2009 Merton
2010 Croydon
2011 Lewisham
2012 Enfield
2013 Lewisham
2014 Lewisham
2015 Croydon

Canoeing

Year Borough
2003 Islington
2004 Islington
2005 Islington
2006 TBC
2007 Westminster
2009 Sutton

Cricket

Year Male Female 2002 Brent Male winner2003 Richmond Harrow
2004 Redbridge Ealing
2005 TBC TBC
2006 Harrow Redbridge
2007 Ealing Bromley
2008 Harrow Merton
2009 Tower Hamlets Redbridge
2010 Redbridge Bexley
2011 Harrow Barnet
2012 Redbridge Hammersmith & Fulham
2013 Harrow Hammersmith & Fulham
2014 Redbridge Wandsworth
2015 Harrow Bromley

Cycling (Road)

Year Borough
2003 Hillingdon
2004 Hillingdon
2005 Redbridge
2006 Redbridge
2007 Redbridge
2008 Hillingdon
2009 Hackney
2010 Hackney
2011 Richmond
2012 Richmond
2013 Richmond
2014 Richmond
2015 Hackney

Cycling (BMX)

Year Borough
2013 Hounslow
2014 Southwark
2015 Hackney

Diving

Year Borough
2003 Havering
2004 Havering
2005 Havering
2006 Havering
2007 Havering
2008 Havering
2009 Bromley
2010 Bromley
2011 Bromley
2012 Croydon
2013 Croydon
2014 Croydon
2015 Bromley

Fencing

Year Borough
2003 Havering
2004 Enfield
2005 Bromley
2006 Kensington & Chelsea
2007 Newham
2008 Newham
2009 = BarnetEnfield

Newham

2010 Newham
2011 Newham
2012 Newham
2013 EnfieldNewham
2014 Ealing
2015Kensington and Chelsea

Football

Year Male Female
2003 Lewisham Waltham Forest
2004 Newham Wandsworth
2005 Brent Southwark
2006 Redbridge Southwark
2007 Greenwich Hillingdon
2008 Newham Lewisham
2009 Brent Lambeth
2010 Southwark Haringey
2011 Lewisham Bexley
2012 Enfield Tower Hamlets
2013 St Michael and St Martins Bromley
2014 Lewisham Waltham Forest
2015 Bexley Wandsworth

Gymnastics (Floor and Vault/Artistic)

Year Male Female
2003 Camden Bexley
2004 Southwark (F & V) Hillingdon (F & V)
2005 Southwark Hillingdon
2006 Southwark (F & V)Harrow (Artistic) Hillingdon (F & V)Bexley (Artistic)
2007 Southwark (F & V)Harrow (artistic)Sutton (F & V)Bexley (Artistic)
2008 Bexley (F & V)

Harrow (artistic)

Sutton (F & V)

Bexley (artistic)

2009 Southwark (F & V)Harrow (Artistic)Kensington & Chelsea (F & V)Bexley (Artistic)
2010 Southwark (F & V)Kingston (Artistic)Sutton (F & V)Bexley (Artistic)
2011 Croydon (F & V)Kingston (Artistic)Lewisham (F & V)Bexley (Artistic)
2012 Southwark (F & V) Sutton (F & V)

Hockey

Year Male Female
Croydon
2003 Bromley Havering
2004 Kingston Bromley
2005 Bromley Southwark
2006 Bromley Havering
2007 Bromley Southwark
2008 Bromley Southwark
2009 Bromley Richmond
2010 Havering Richmond
2011 Kingston Wandsworth
2012 Redbridge Wandsworth
2013 Haringey Wandsworth
2014 WandsworthWandsworth
2015 Southwark Harrow

Judo

Year Male Female
2003 Brent Brent
2004 Brent Brent
2005 Brent Redbridge
2006 Hammersmith and Fulham Redbridge
2007 Bromley Barking & Dagenham
2008 Sutton Southwark
2009 Richmond Sutton
2010 Wandsworth Sutton
2011 Wandsworth Sutton
2012 Wandsworth Greenwich
2013 Wandsworth Sutton
2014 Wandsworth Greenwich
2015 Wandsworth Sutton
2016 Wandsworth

Karate

Year Male Female
2008 Havering Havering
2009 Redbridge Havering

Kayak Sprint

Year Borough
2009 Richmond
2010 Richmond
2011 Richmond
2012 Kensington & Chelsea
2013 Richmond
2014 Richmond
2015 Richmond
2016 Hammersmith & Fulham

Kayak Slalom

Year Borough
2008 Kensington & Chelsea
2009 Islington
2010 Kensington & Chelsea
2011 Kensington & Chelsea
2012 Tower Hamlets
2013 Kensington & Chelsea
2014 Kensington & Chelsea
2015 Richmond

Netball

Year Borough
2003 Havering
2004 Havering
2005 Barking & Dagenham
2006 Redbridge
2007 Barking & Dagenham
2008 Redbridge
2009 Redbridge
2010 Redbridge
2011 Havering
2012 Havering
2013 Redbridge
2014 Redbridge
2015 Redbridge

ParaGames Athletics

Year Male Female
2003 Croydon Croydon
2004 Haringey Bexley
2005 Lewisham Bexley
2006 Lewisham Croydon
2007 Lewisham Bexley
2008 Enfield Barking & Dagenham
2009 Croydon Enfield
2010 Croydon Croydon
2011 Croydon Croydon
2012 Croydon Croydon
2013 Croydon Croydon
2014 Croydon Croydon
2015 Lewisham Newham

ParaGames Football

Year Male Female
2003 Lambeth Bromley
2004 Greenwich Greenwich
2005 Newham Lewisham
2006 Newham Hammersmith & Fulham
2007 Lewisham Bexley
2008 Newham N/A
2009 Lambeth Bromley
2010 Southwark Bromley
2011 Newham Bexley
2012 Lambeth Bromley
2013 Hammersmith & Fulham Bromley
2014 Greenwich Ealing

ParaGames Swimming

Year Male Female
2003 Croydon Bexley
2004 Sutton Sutton
2005 Croydon Lewisham
2006 Lewisham Croydon
2007 Sutton Lewisham
2008 Sutton Lewisham
2009 Sutton Sutton
2010 Enfield Croydon
2011 Sutton Sutton
2012 Sutton Croydon
2013 Croydon Croydon
2014 Croydon Croydon
2015 Croydon Croydon

Swimming

Year Male Female
2003 Bromley Bromley
2004 Richmond Bromley
2005 Lewisham Bromley
2006 Lewisham Lewisham
2007 Havering Bromley
2008 Sutton Bromley
2009 Hillingdon Bromley
2010 Croydon Hillingdon
2011 Croydon Hillingdon
2012 Ealing Hillingdon
2013 Croydon Hillingdon
2014 Bromley Croydon
2015 Bromley Richmond

Table Tennis

Year Male Female
2003 Kingston Kingston
2004 Enfield Kingston
2005 Wandsworth Enfield
2006 Wandsworth Enfield
2007 Ealing Brent
2008 Tower Hamlets Brent
2009 Ealing Tower Hamlets
2010 Ealing Tower Hamlets
2011 Enfield Westminster
2012 Wandsworth Enfield
2013 Southwark Hackney
2014 Sutton Hackney
2015 Croydon Brent

Tennis (Team)

Year Borough
2003 Havering
2004 Bromley
2005 Croydon
2006 Redbridge
2007 Sutton
2008 Sutton
2009 Bromley
2010 Bromley
2011 Havering
2012 Havering
2013 Bromley
2014 Croydon
2015 Wandsworth

Trampolining

Year Borough
2003 Waltham Forest
2004 Enfield
2005 Enfield
2006 Kingston
2007 Bromley
2008 Havering
2009 Bromley
2010 Bromley
2011 Kingston
2012 Bromley
2013 Havering
2014 Hillingdon
2015 Hillingdon

Triathlon/Aquathon

Year Borough
2003 Waltham Forest
2004 TBC
2005 Enfield
2006 Havering
2007 Havering
2008 Havering
2009 Havering
2010 Havering
2011 Richmond
2012 Enfield
2013 Bromley
2014 Enfield
2015 Enfield

Volleyball

Year Male Female
2003 Havering Havering
2004 Wandsworth Havering
2005 Wandsworth Havering
2006 Wandsworth Wandsworth
2007 Redbridge Wandsworth
2008 Redbridge Wandsworth
2009 Wandsworth Havering
2010 Wandsworth Croydon
2011 Wandsworth Wandsworth
2012 Croydon Wandsworth
2013 Wandsworth Wandsworth
2014 Wandsworth Wandsworth
2015 Wandsworth Wandsworth

Weightlifting

Year Borough
2001 Ealing
2002 Hounslow
2003 EnfieldHounslow
2004 EnfieldHounslow
2005 Enfield
2006 Bexley
2007 Bexley
2008 Bexley
2009 Bexley
2010 Bexley Hackney
2011 Hackney
2012 Hackney
2013 HillingdonEaling
2014 Hillingdon
2015 EalingHillingdon

Notable participants

The London Youth Games has been a stepping stone in the careers of many of the UK's most successful sportsmen and sportswomen, plus some who have succeeding outside of competitive sport. Below is a list of notable personalities who have represented their borough at London Youth Games.

Athletics

Jackie Agyepong, Dina Asher-Smith, Steve Backley, Jack Binstead, Julia Bleasdale, Abdul Buhari, Linford Christie, Tasha Danvers, Monique Davis, Tyrone Edgar, Mo Farah, Jo Fenn, Rikki Fifton, Dalton Grant, Desiree Henry, John Herbert, JJ Jegede, Jade Johnson, Jeanette Kwakye, Joice Maduaka, Daryll Neita, Christine Ohuruogu, Tosin Oke, Samson Oni, Scott Overall, Abi Oyepitan, Asha Philip, Kyle Powell, John Regis, Sabrina Sinha, Laura Turner, David Weir, Benedict Whitby, Conrad Williams, Nadia Williams

Badminton

Aamir Ghaffar, Rajiv Ouseph, Charlene White

Basketball

Ogo Adegboye, Matthew Bryan-Amaning, Steve Bucknall, Arek Deng, Ajou Deng, Luol Deng, Temi Fagbenle, Rosalee Mason, Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Azania Stewart, Andrew Sullivan

Cricket

Rory Hamilton-Brown, Susie Rowe

Cycling

Erick Rowsell, Tao Geoghegan Hart Jo Rowsell, Bradley Wiggins

Diving

Tony Ally, Blake Aldridge, Peter Waterfield

Fencing

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

Football

Chris Bart-Williams, Siobhan Chamberlain, Ashley Cole, Dickson Etuhu, Gavin Hoyte, Jordon Ibe, Justin Hoyte, Ledley King, Eartha Pond, Claire Rafferty, Jadon Sancho Lianne Sanderson, Alex Scott, Danny Shittu, Marvin Sordell, Raheem Sterling, Casey Stoney, Fara Williams, Rachel Yankey

Gymnastics

Chris Bower, Rio Ferdinand, Warren Russell of Diversity (dance troupe)

Hockey

Sophie Bray, Darren Cheesman, Dan Shingles

Judo

Victoria Dunn, Gemma Gibbons, Karina Bryant, Winston Gordon, Michelle Holt, Ashley McKenzie, Nekoda Smythe-Davis

Kayak / Canoe

Lizzie Broughton, Leanne Brown, Richard Hounslow, Stelian Naftanaila, Lucy Ormorod, Marthe de Ferrer

Karate

Rachel Newey

Netball

Kadeem Corbin, Sasha Corbin, Amanda Newton

Rugby

Maggie Alphonsi, Abi Chamberlain, Helen Clayton, Louise Horgan, Katy Storie, Topsy Ojo

Rowing

Tom Aggar, Ryan Chamberlain, Mark Hunter, Naomi Riches

Skiing

Chemmy Alcott, Aaron Tipping

Squash

Paul Johnson, Dominique Lloyd-Walter, Alison Waters

Swimming

Elaine Barrett, Ellen Gandy, Dervis Konuralp, Zara Long, Amy Marren, Craig Moate

Table Tennis

Darius Knight

Tennis

Anne Keothavong

Triathlon

Tim Don, Stuart Hayes, Jodie Swallow

Volleyball

Dami Bakare, Peter Bakare, Lucy Boulton, Natasha Brewer, Lizzie Reid, Darius Setsoafia, Yasser Slitti, Nikki Strachan

Weightlifting

Joanne Calvino, Darren Holloway, Jack Oliver, Zoe Smith, Emily Godley, Mercy Brown

Other

Hall of Fame

See main article: London Youth Games 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 at a prestigious ceremony at Battersea.

From 2010 to 2012, the Hall of Fame evening moved to Lord's Cricket Ground. In 2010, the inductees were 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).

The third group of inductees in 2011 were skier 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 Gemma Gibbons (Greenwich), canoeist Richard Hounslow (Harrow), England rugby star Maggie Alphonsi (Enfield) and world champion track star John Regis (Lewisham).

The Hall of Fame evening moved on to BAFTA for 2013 and London 2012 judo bronze medallist Karina Bryant (Kingston), England and Arsenal footballer Alex Scott (Tower Hamlets), fencer Richard Kruse (Barnet), Olympic silver medallist diver Peter Waterfield (Waltham Forest) were all inducted, as well as Darren Hall (Waltham Forest), who is considered by many as the best-ever British badminton player.

At the 2014 Hall of Fame evening, Madame Tussauds played host to the evening and the inductees were basketball trailblazer Steve Bucknall, weightlifting champion Zoe Smith and World Champion swimmer Craig Moate. In 2015, the Hall of Fame moved to Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, and England footballers Siobhan Chamberlain and Lianne Sanderson were among the inductees.

External links