Harrow’s young talents in table tennis have emerged victorious at the London Youth Games’ Finals Festival, held at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford.
The event saw participation from over 4,000 young people from various boroughs across London during the weekend of July 1st-2nd.
Notably, Harrow also secured a Gold medal in the Boys BMX ‘Expert Race’ during the festival. Additionally, their boys’ hockey team displayed commendable performance, earning well-deserved bronze medals among fierce competition. Harrow’s boys’ athletics team also claimed bronze medals in both the long jump and javelin events.
The London Youth Games’ Finals Festival brought together young Londoners from all 33 boroughs, providing a diverse and inclusive platform for sport, culture, and art. The event took place in the same venues that hosted the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, allowing participants to follow in the footsteps of Great Britain’s sporting legends.
With the festival featuring athletics, tennis, BMX, swimming, road cycling, basketball, volleyball, netball, hockey, aquathlon, and table tennis, among other sports, the young athletes had the opportunity to compete at the historic Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park venues, further building on the Olympic legacy.
Cllr Jean Lammiman, London Borough of Harrow’s Portfolio Holder for Community & Culture, said: “What a wonderful set of results for our local boys teams and our mixed badminton team. They all have really done the borough proud. Team sports and healthy competition nourishes some of the best skills which will help them immensely throughout their lives.”
LYG Chair Prof. Geoff Thompson MBE FRSA DL QP JM said “The mental, physical and emotional health and well-being benefits were evident as the teams went through the final rounds, culminating in the Jubilee trophy, which is presented to the winning borough as a reflection of a year-round exposure of sport for development and peace. 2024 will see an Olympic and Paralympic year provide the Youth Games Finals Festival with a further opportunity for families, friends, coaches, officials, volunteers and organisations to work together and be part of something special in the lives of young people and communities.”
Lyn Garner, CEO, LLDC said: “We were thrilled to host so many participants and spectators at the London Youth Games Finals Festival over the weekend. It’s wonderful to think that eleven years on from London 2012, the iconic venues at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park continue to inspire the next sporting generation.”
The festival served as the culmination of over fifty qualifying events in more than thirty sports across London, with over 10,000 participants and spectators gathering at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for the exciting occasion.
The London Youth Games Foundation, in collaboration with various partners, including Nike, Sport England, London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC), Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, Greater London Authority (GLA), and Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL), focuses on making sports accessible to young people from diverse backgrounds and transforming opportunities for children across the city.
The event not only showcased the athletic prowess of young Londoners but also emphasized the belief that sport plays a vital role in promoting social integration. Spectators and participants enjoyed the London Youth Games Foundation Festival outside the Copper Box Arena, with activities ranging from arts and history exhibitions to dance performances, workshops, and diverse sports activations.
Congratulations poured in for the London borough of Harrow for their outstanding achievements at the London Youth Games.
