NEW LONDON 2012 CHAIRMAN CHAMPIONS YOUTH GAMES
25 May 2004by PRESS OFFICE
The listing was posted by London Heathrow Youth Games
One of Britain’s greatest ever athletes and newly appointed London 2012 Chairman, Sebastian Coe, was in Trafalgar Square today (Tuesday 25 May) to launch Europe’s largest youth sports event - the BAA Heathrow London Youth Games.
Following the recent announcement that London has been shortlisted to host the 2012 Olympics, the bid team’s new Chairman gave a big ‘thumbs up’ to London’s young talent – some of whom may well be going for gold in eight years time. Sebastian Coe hosted a masterclass session and fielded questions from a group of London youngsters who are taking part in the BAA Heathrow London Youth Games at Crystal Palace in July.
Sebastian Coe said: “I am delighted that London has cleared this first hurdle and extremely encouraged by the enthusiasm and support for the bid by the young London athletes here today. The BAA Heathrow London Youth Games provide young Londoners with the chance to get a foot on the sporting ladder and help to develop and encourage young people’s sporting talent. With thousands of young people involved, the event is a fantastic festival of sport and provides an excellent platform for youngsters from all walks of life. Very few initiatives are able to promote young Londoners in such a positive way.
“Some competitors in the Youth Games may go on to be Olympic champions in London in 2012. We know from a recent opinion poll that there is fantastic support from young people for the bid and we want to capture and build on that enthusiasm across the country.”
Based on an Olympic Games format, more than 20,000 children representing the 33 London boroughs will get active this summer and compete in 28 sports – everything from athletics to archery and swimming to squash. The Games are a clear example of the passion and fervour felt for sport by young people in the Capital.
Sebastian Coe added: “Many of these young contestants may well go on to compete in the 2012 Olympics and projects such as this can only help to develop and encourage British talent for the future. To take part in such a highly competitive and fun event provides an invaluable experience for the young people of the region.”
Since its inception in 1977 the BAA Heathrow London Youth Games has proved to be a great platform to success for a whole host of participants including: sprinters Linford Christie (Hammersmith and Fulham) and John Regis (Greenwich), 800 metre runner Jo Fenn (Barnet), javelin thrower Steve Backley (Bexley) and footballers Ashley Cole (Tower Hamlets) and Ledley King (Tower Hamlets).
In addition to teaming up with London 2012 the Games have gained the support of several high profile organisations to help build on the success of the event over the past 26 years. Event partners now include the Greater London Authority, London Active Partnership, Sport England, Association of London Government and the Royal Navy.
BAA Heathrow is sponsoring the London Youth Games for the eleventh year running and BAA Heathrow’s Jon Phillips, said: “BAA is proud to be associated with such a fantastic event and we welcome the new partnership with London 2012. This year’s Games have been given an extra boost following the shortlisting of London for the Olympics in eight years time and we hope that some of the young people taking part this year will be able to do so in their hometown in 2012.”
From the first knockout round on 12 June through to the Finals Weekend on 10/11 July at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, 32 London Boroughs and the City of London will be competing for the Overall Borough Trophy currently held by Bexley, whose win last year broke Havering’s amazing six year winning streak.