London Youth Games launched a Virtual Games to promote activity and engage young Londoners in sport.
Each year approximately 15,000 children and young people from London take part in the London Youth Games.
The Games act as a springboard for many of London’s top sporting talents with London Youth Games’ star-studded alumni includes Dina Asher Smith, Mo Farah, Raheem Sterling, Bradley Wiggins and David Weir.
With the London Youth Games unable to deliver its usual Games programme due to the covid-19 pandemic, the decision was made to turn the Games virtual.
The London Youth Games Virtual Games was a four-week competition giving children and young people from London the chance to represent their borough in a series of sport related challenges that could be done at home, at school or while out for daily exercise.
Three weekly challenges were released every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 9am on the London Youth Games website and social media channels.
“At London Youth Games we have seen how sport can improve both physical and mental well-being whilst bringing people from many different backgrounds together.
“We wanted to put on the Virtual Games to help young people through this difficult time, enabling young people from whatever background to be active, compete against others and to represent their borough,” London Youth Games CEO Andy Dalby-Welsh.
Participants were given until Friday at midday to complete the challenges and submit their scores.
All the challenges related to a London Youth Games sport and were set by young Londoners with a connection to the Games.
The Virtual Games was open to all children and young people from London, who competed across the twelve different challenges to earn points for their boroughs.
All the challenges came with suggested adaptations for space, equipment and ability to ensure they are as inclusive as possible.
A leaderboard with the latest borough standings was updated every week, and after the final challenge, Camden was crowned the winning borough and the first ever LYG Virtual Games champions.
Among many others, challenges were set by sisters Izzy and Elly from Ealing’s netball team, cross country runners Ricky and Dominique from Sutton, Badminton player Aaron from Lewisham, Chukwudi from LYG winning Haringey Hawks Basketball team and Freya from the London Titans Wheelchair Basketball team to name a few.
The final week recorded the highest participation numbers, with 15,221 entries.
In total, across all 13 challenges, the Virtual Games attracted an incredible 40,522 entries, with engagement from all 33 boroughs.
The London Youth Games Virtual Games has proved a huge success with young Londoners across the capital.
