London Youth Games

1977–1984

The London Youth Games is launched as one of two major sporting events to mark the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. The first Games were held that same year at the National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace, where it has remained since.^[14]

After a year away, the Games returned in 1979 and continued to grow through the early 1980s with the introduction of more sports and a rise in the number of competitors.

1985–1989

RS Feva at the London Youth Games Regatta

London Youth Games Ltd is created in 1985 to cater for the growth and complexity of the organisation dedicated to running the London Youth Games and other London sports events for young people.

The 1986 London Youth Games sees the introduction of a water sports regatta at the Royal Albert and Victoria Docks. To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the 1987 London Youth Games features in cycling's Milk Race and the cross-country championships are introduced to the Games programme.^[14]

1990–2000

In 1994, BAA Heathrow becomes first title sponsor of the London Youth Games which are renamed ' The London Heathrow Youth Games '. The Mini Games event for Londoners under the age of 11 is introduced. The Indoor Cricket Cup is set up in 1996. A then record 20,000 children take part in the 1998 London Youth Games.

The regatta is revamped in 1999 with the introduction of separate competitions in canoeing, sailing and rowing. Events for disabled athletes, swimming, football and girls rugby union are introduced.

A four-day national Youth Games final of the winning teams from all 43 Area Youth Games in the UK takes place in Southampton in August 2000. London sends two squads to represent them at 'The BAA Millennium Youth Games' in the 12 sports competitions.^[14]

2001–2005

Zoe Smith weightlifting at the London Youth Games

The London Youth Games reach their 25th anniversary in 2001 with GB Olympic diver Tony Ally among its promoters.

The Queen, accompanied by her husband Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, visit the London Youth Games Mini Games at Crystal Palace on 4 July as part of her Golden Jubilee Tour in 2002. She watches a relay race and presents winners medals.

London Youth Games establishes its own website. A festival stage with a big screen, 95.8 Capital FM and the Royal Navy entertain crowds at the 2003 London Youth Games finals weekend.

The 2004 London Youth Games are launched by former boxing champion Michael Watson and showcase the London 2012 bid during the launch and at the finals weekend. London Youth Games competitor Amber Charles (Newham, girls basketball), then 14, is chosen as a youth ambassador for the bid. Participants greet the Athens Olympic Flame as it arrives in the UK on its world tour.

BAA Heathrow's sponsorship of the Games ends in 2005 and a new public sector funding secured the London Youth Games' future with long-term funding from Sport England London and the Greater London Authority.^[14]

Boris Johnson lights the flame at the 2010 London Youth Games Opening Ceremony

2006–2010

Balfour Beatty announces a six-year association with the London Youth Games in 2006. They sign as a title sponsor until 2013 and the London Youth Games are renamed ' The Balfour Beatty London Youth Games '.

British long-distance runner Mo Farah light the games torch at the opening ceremony of the 2007 London Youth Games.

The London Youth Games celebrate the 500,000th competitor in its history in 2009. The London Youth Games also gets its first patron with former competitor, Chicago Bulls and GB basketball captain Luol Deng and the London Youth Games Hall of Fame is launched with six former participants inducted.^[15]

In 2010, the London Youth Games hit a record 50,000 competitors and became the largest annual youth sports event in Europe. Olympic 400m runner Christine Ohuruogu was the 2010 London Youth Games patron. Six more alumni were inducted into the Hall of Fame.^[14][16] Foxy was introduced as the official London Youth Games mascot.

2011–present

2011 was another record year for the London Youth Games, as over 71,000 youngsters compete across 30 sports, with Richmond taking home the Jubilee Trophy. England women's footballer Rachel Yankey was the patron of that year's Games, and was also inducted into the 2011 Hall of Fame along with skier Chemmy Alcott, Paralympic swimmer Elaine Barrett, triathlete Tim Don, high jumper Dalton Grant, and squash player Paul Johnson.^[17]

2012 saw the London Youth Games introduce a whole new raft of school competitions in line with the national School Games pathway and hosted the inaugural finals at Crystal Palace in March. Hounslow were the victors and took home the Schools Shield. Games alumni Zoe Smith and David Weir were joint patrons for a record-breaking year at the London Youth Games. In Olympic and Paralympic year, Croydon were crowned winners of the Jubilee Trophy for the first time in 18 years. It was announced later in the year that participation figures for the 2012 Balfour Beatty London Youth Games were 104,463 – a record in the history of the event.

The London Youth Games was well represented at both the 2012 Olympics and 2012 Paralympics with 44 competitors in total. LYG alumni contributed 14 medals to Team GB including gold medals for Mo Farah, David Weir, Bradley Wiggins, Joanna Rowsell and Naomi Riches.

Olympic Judo star and former Greenwich competitor Gemma Gibbons is Patron for the 2013 Games. Wandsworth won the Balfour Beatty London Youth Games School Games and are now the holders of the Schools Shield. The Games Finals will take place on 6 and 7 July at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre.

Previous Sports

Karate, Skiing, Showjumping, Darts

Previous Winners

Jubilee Trophy wins by borough

Wins	Country	Years
16	Havering	1977, 1979–81, 1983, 1984, 1995, 1997–2002, 2004, 2006, 2009
6	Bromley	1986, 1988, 1991, 2007, 2008, 2010
5	Redbridge	1990, 1992, 1993, 1996, 2005
3	Croydon	1985, 1994, 2012
2	Waltham Forest	1982, 1987
1	Enfield	1989
	Bexley	2003
	Richmond	2011
	Wandsworth	2013

|Bromley |2016 |- |} |Bromley |2017 |- |} |Bromley |2018 |- |}

Havering celebrate winning the Jubilee Trophy in 2009

Athletics

Angling

Archery

Badminton

Basketball

Boccia

Canoeing

Cricket

Cycling (Road)

Cycling (BMX)

Diving

Fencing

Football

Gymnastics (Floor and Vault/Artistic)

Hockey

Judo

Karate

Kayak Sprint

Kayak Slalom

Netball

ParaGames Athletics

ParaGames Football

ParaGames Swimming

Swimming

Table Tennis

Tennis (Team)

Trampolining

Triathlon/Aquathon

Volleyball

Weightlifting

Hall of Fame and Awards Evening

The annual Hall of Fame and Awards Evening not only sees former London Youth Games competitors inducted into the Hall of Fame, it recognises and presents special awards to individuals and organisations who make a major contribution to the success of the London Youth Games.^{[15][16][24][52]}

The 2012 Hall of Fame and Awards evening took place on Tuesday 9 October at Lords Cricket Ground.^[53]

Below is a list of previous award winners at the evening:^[52]

Award winners at the 2010 Hall of Fame

The Jubilee Cup

Community Partner of the Year

Coach of the Year

GamesForce Volunteer of the Year (Age 16–25)

Volunteer of the Year (Age 25+)

Rick Grice Spirit of the Games Award