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LONDON YOUTH GAMES FINALS WEEKEND WETS SPORTING APPETITES FOR THE 2012 OLYMPICS
The 28th London Youth Games set Crystal Palace alight once again the weekend of the 2 and 3 July 2005, as five weeks of action featuring 20,000 young Londoners culminated in the finals of 28 sports; sports as diverse as diving, fencing, canoeing and athletics. Europe’s largest youth sports event came just 60 hours before London discovered it had won the right to host another major sporting showpiece - the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games!
The east London Borough of Redbridge won the overall prize (the coveted Jubilee Trophy) as it narrowly beat Bromley and Southwark into second and third place respectively. Havering’s decade of dominance was broken by a Redbridge team who won gold, silver or bronze in no less than ten sports.
The weekend’s other big winners were: Southwark (Inner London Boroughs Trophy), Lewisham (Disability Sports Trophy), Barnet (Choice FM Most Improved Borough) and Redbridge (Fair Play Award).
On Thursday (30 June 2005) London 2012 Bid Ambassadors and track stars Steve Cram, Jo Fenn and Donna Fraser continued a colourful Games tradition when they sparked the flame to officially open the London Youth Games - in front of 3,000 primary school children from across the capital.
Middle distance running legend Steve Cram, who also hosted a major decision day event in Trafalgar Square on 6 July, released 2,000 balloons to mark the launch. He said: “I was delighted to join Jo and Donna to mark the opening of the London Youth Games. The thousands of youngsters who participated can benefit directly from a London Games and it was great to see that enthusiasm for sport and for London’s Bid has growing support when we are so close to the finishing line.”
North Londoner Jo Fenn is the latest of a long list of big names who have used the London Youth Games as a stepping stone to representing GB at major international events. She said: “I’m living proof that many of this year’s London Youth Games competitors may well go on to compete in the 2012 Olympics Games. I won the 400m in 1993 - taking part in such a highly competitive and fun event certainly provided me with invaluable experience for my sporting career.”
Earlier in the year (in May) the London Youth Games was launched beside the Thames by triple jump legend Jonathon Edwards and 2012 Bid Ambassador Nell McAndrew.
Also earlier this year London Youth Games announced some important news: a major funding agreement with Sport England London - to augment funding packages secured from The Greater London Authority, Association of London Government and London 2012. This financial platform will help the next crop of talented young Londoners to follow in the spike marks of former London Youth Games' stars John Regis and Steve Backley.
Matthew Delaney, Regional Director for Sport England London, said: "The London Youth Games has an important role to play in helping young Londoners enjoy sport and get active. Our key objective is to raise sport and physical activity levels in London by one percent each year, and this event will make a huge difference."
Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said: “There are just two and a half days to go until we discover whether we have won the honour of hosting the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London, and the London Youth Games are a fantastic demonstration of our passion for sport as we head towards decision day.
“The London Youth Games show how sport unites all ages, genders and cultures in our city. That is why I decided to commit £25,000 a year towards the Games during the current Mayoral term to further enhance London's sporting legacy for young people. Many thousands of young Londoners from across the Boroughs have benefited during the almost 30 years the London Youth Games have been running - and many more will do so in future.”
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